Hundreds of Maduro supporters protest his capture as Venezuela’s interim government pursues diplomatic and oil talks with the United States.
CARACAS: Hundreds of supporters of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro staged protests on Saturday, a week after his capture by US forces.
Around 1,000 protesters rallied in western Caracas and a few hundred in the Petare district, far smaller than previous demonstrations by Maduro’s camp.
“I’ll march as often as I have to until Nicolas and Cilia come back,” said demonstrator Soledad Rodriguez, 69.
She described the presidential couple, taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges, as having been “kidnapped.”
Top figures from the interim government were notably absent from the rallies.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez instead attended an agricultural fair, vowing she would “not rest for a minute until we have our president back.”
Hardline government figures Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino Lopez were also not seen at the demonstrations.
Maduro claimed he was “doing well” in jail, according to a video released by his party on Saturday.
The interim government has said it is reviving diplomatic contact with Washington and discussing possible oil sales.
Rodriguez said Venezuela would deal with the US through “the diplomatic route.”
Washington confirmed US envoys visited Caracas on Friday to discuss reopening their embassy before leaving as scheduled.
“The Trump Administration remains in close contact with interim authorities,” a State Department official said.
The Venezuelan government did not confirm whether the US officials met with Rodriguez.
She has pledged to cooperate with US President Donald Trump over access to Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Rodriguez also insisted Venezuela is not “subordinate” to Washington.
The US embassy in Colombia warned American citizens that “the security situation in Venezuela remains fluid.”
It advised US nationals to leave the country “immediately” as commercial flights become available.
Anxious relatives camped outside jails awaiting the release of political prisoners.
The interim government began releasing prisoners on Thursday, promising a “large” number would be freed.
Prisoners’ rights groups said on Saturday that fewer than 20 had been freed.
Families slept overnight near El Rodeo prison east of Caracas hoping for releases.
“I am tired and angry,” Nebraska Rivas, 57, told AFP as she waited for her son.
“But I have faith that they will hand him over to us soon,” she said.
Following Maduro’s capture, Trump vowed to secure US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Chevron is currently the only US firm licensed to operate in Venezuela.
The White House said Trump signed an order protecting US-held revenues from Venezuelan oil sales.
At a White House meeting on Friday, he pressed top oil executives to invest in Venezuela.
ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods dismissed the country as “uninvestable” without sweeping reforms.
Experts say Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is creaky after years of mismanagement and sanctions.
