Venezuela news Police vehicles drive at opposition supporters as Maduro forces try to put down Guaido's 'military-backed' coup

The protests are expected to last into the night and potentially longer

Venezuelan military vehicle drives into crowd of civilians on highway

Venezuela has seen a day of tumult and protests as the country's opposition leader Juan Guaido began what he described as the "final phase" of his plan to take wrest control of the Venezuelan government from president Nicolas Maduro.

The day of unrest began on Tuesday with Mr Guaido appearing in a video surrounded by troops who he said had put their weight behind the opposition leader's claim to leadership — a claim that Mr Guaido would make repeatedly throughout the day at several locations in Caracas.

As the day progressed, Mr Maduro described the effort to remove him from office as a "coup" dreamed up in Washington, and claimed that he had been assured of "total loyalty" to his cause by military leaders in the country. In a later interview, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that Mr Maduro was prepared to flee the country on Tuesday morning, but had been talked out of doing so by Russian officials.

But, as images and videos of violence broadcast around the world from Caracas, several officials in countries around the world weighed in on the events, including John Bolton, the national security adviser in the White House. Mr Bolton told reporters at the White House that no options had been taken off the table for the United States, including military action, even though a peaceful transfer of power was preferable.

During those remarks, Mr Bolton suggested that the Cuban government and military was propping up thee Maduro regime. Later, in a tweet, Mr Bolton tagged several senior aides to Mr Maduro to tell them "your time is up."

"This is your last chance," Mr Bolton wrote. "Accept Interim President Guaido's amnesty, protect the Constitution, and remove Maduro, and we will take you off our sanctions list. Stay with Maduro, and go down with the ship."

Back in Venezuela, Mr Guaido called for Venezuelans and the military to back him to end Mr Maduro's "usurpation", declaring: "The moment is now."

There is some expectation that demonstrations — which included reports of gunfire, and military vehicles driving into crowds of demonstrators — would last through the night and into Wednesday.

Thanks for reading along as we watched the situation in Venezuela

Key Points

• Guido declares 'moment is now' in video showing him flanked by troops
• President 'firmly' in control and retains support of military, insists government
• Military vehicles seen driving into opposition demonstrators on the street
• Opposition activist freed from house arrest 'by intelligence service'
• Gunfire on streets of Caracas
• Guaido's ambassador to the US calls for 'persistent' presence in the streets of Caracas

[30 April 2019 20:50 · Clark Mindock]

Among those watching the situation in Caracas is Donald Trump, whose national security adviser briefed reporters earlier today on the situation in Venezuela.

In that briefing, John Bolton indicated that all options are still on the table — including potential military involvement if the US decides that is necessary.

Here is the president's tweet on Venezuela this afternoon:

[30 April 2019 21:10 · Clark Mindock]

Canadian Foreign Minister Christina Freeland has requested an emergency meeting of the Lima group  — via video conference on Tuesday — in order to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

The Lima group was established in 2017 in Peru, and includes the governments of 12 countries wit the stated goal of establishing a peaceful exit from the crisis in Venezuela.

[30 April 2019 21:30 · Clark Mindock]

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had the following to say about the events in Venezuela today. The US supports the removal of Mr Moduro from office, and has backed Mr Guaido.

[30 April 2019 21:31 · Clark Mindock]

CNN has reportedly been taken off the air in Venezuela, as the conflict there continues.

The Venezuelan government reportedly sent orders to DirecTV, Net Uno, Intercable, and Telefónica to cut and block CNN from broadcasting.

[30 April 2019 22:27 · Clark Mindock]

Here's the latest from Donald Trump on the situation in Venezuela. Mr Trump and his administration have blamed the Cuban government and military for propping up the Maduro government.