Venezuela’s Guaido says troops have joined him in 'final phase' of ending Maduro presidency

'The moment is now,' declares opposition leader as he appears in video surrounded by armed men in military uniform

Armed factions have clashed in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas following opposition leader Juan Guaido‘s call for a military uprising to oust president Nicolas Maduro.

Several dozen armed men in military uniform accompanying Mr Guaido exchanged gunfire with forces supporting Mr Maduro outside the La Carlota air base, witnesses said.

Mr Guaido claimed on Tuesday to have begun the “final phase” of his plan to oust the president, calling on the public and the military to back him, but several hours later the opposition did not appear to be close to taking power by force.

In a video posted on his Twitter account, Mr Guaido was seen surrounded by troops as he declared: “The moment is now.”

He added: “The national armed forces have taken the correct decision, and they are counting on the support of the Venezuelan people.”

Opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, who has been under house arrest since 2014, also appeared in the video after being freed by his military guards.

Mr Maduro’s government said it remained “firmly” in control of the country and was confronting a small group of “military traitors” seeking to promote a coup.

The president said he had spoken with military leaders and they had pledged their “total loyalty” to him.

“We reject this coup movement, which aims to fill the country with violence,” said defence minister Vladimir Padrino, who insisted all military units across Venezuela ”report normality” in their barracks and bases.

The move was Mr Guaido’s boldest effort yet to convince the military to rise up against Mr Maduro. If it fails, it could be seen as evidence that he lacks the support he says he has. It might also encourage the authorities, which have already stripped him of parliamentary immunity and opened multiple investigations into him, to arrest him.

In January Mr Guaido, the leader of Venezuela‘s opposition-controlled National Assembly invoked the constitution to declare himself interim president, arguing that Mr Maduro’s re-election in 2018 was illegitimate.

The United States was among some 50 countries that recognise Mr Guaido as Venezuela‘s president, and imposed sanctions to try to dislodge Mr Maduro, but the president has so far clung to power.

Donald Trump has yet to comment on the uprising, although the White House confirmed he was “monitoring the ongoing situation and secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US government “fully supports” Mr Guaido’s call for military backing.

A former US official said that while it was unclear of Mr Guaido’s efforts would trigger a broader military uprising, it appeared aimed at building momentum towards mass protests planned for Wednesday.

Mr Guaido has said the May Day demonstrations “the largest march in Venezuela‘s history” and part of the “definitive phase” of his effort to take office in order to call fresh elections.

Mr Maduro has accused Mr Guaido of being a US-backed puppet who seeks to oust him in a coup. The government has arrested Mr Guaido’s top aide, stripped him of his parliamentary immunity and opened multiple probes. It has also barred him from leaving the country, a ban Mr Guaido openly violated earlier this year.