Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido facing arrest upon return home

'If the regime dares, of course, to kidnap us, it will be the last mistake they make'

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido faces the risk of arrest after he vowed to return home on Monday.

Mr Guaido ignored a court-imposed travel ban and left the country to tour Latin American allies to boost support for his campaign to oust president Nicolas Maduro.

His return could become the next flashpoint in his battle with Mr Maduro as he seeks to encourage his international backers to further isolate the socialist government.

Mr Guaido called for huge demonstrations to coincide with his planned return, which falls during the Carnival holiday period, an unusual time for protests.

“If the regime dares, of course, to kidnap us, it will be the last mistake they make,” Mr Guaido said during a broadcast on Twitter. He said they had prepared “the steps to follow” in case he was detained.

Mr Guaido, who has been recognised as Venezuela‘s legitimate head of state by most Western nations, secretly left Venezuela for Colombia in February, in violation of a Supreme Court order, to coordinate efforts there to send humanitarian aid into Venezuela to alleviate widespread shortages of food and medicine.

Troops loyal to President Maduro blocked convoys of aid trucks sent from Colombia and Brazil, leading to clashes that killed at least six people, according to rights groups.

From Colombia, he then travelled to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay to shore up Latin American support for a transition government that would precede free and fair elections.

On Sunday, he departed by plane from the Ecuadorean coastal town of Salinas but has not appeared publicly since, beyond the Twitter broadcast.

To arrive in Caracas by Monday morning, he could take commercial flights from Bogota or Panama City.

Mr Maduro, who has labelled Mr Guaido a coup-mongering US puppet, has said his arrest depends on the justice system.

“He can’t just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country,” he told ABC News last week.

The US has warned Mr Maduro of the consequences of arresting Mr Guaido and the Treasury imposed new sanctions targeting Venezuelan military officials on Friday.

“Any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community,” US national security adviser John Bolton tweeted.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has also warned against any action by the Venezuelan government against Mr Guaido.

“In this respect any measure that could put at risk Juan Guaido’s freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions and meet the firm condemnation of the international community,” Ms Mogherini said.

Additional reporting by agencies