Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, who in turn promised to crush a "crazed minority" that wants to remove him from power.
The 35-year-old National Assembly leader returned home to a hero's welcome on Monday, having defied a ban on leaving the country to embark on a 10-day tour of South American allies and remains free after returning despite the threat of arrest by the government.
"They're drowning in contradictions, they don't know how to respond to Venezuela's people," Mr Guaido told reporters. "They thought the pressure had reached its zenith, but it's only just beginning."
On Tuesday, a national holiday, he met public sector union leaders.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Donald Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the leftist leader. Source: AAP
Mr Guaido said, without giving further details, "Public sector workers have lost practically all their rights, we have no other option but to call for a civic strike,"
President Maduro, meanwhile, pressed his supporters to hold "anti-imperialist" marches on Saturday to counter fresh protests planned by Mr Guaido.
"Today more than ever, we are victorious against the conspiracy, against blackmail, while a crazy minority continues with their hatred," he said in his first public comments since Juan Guaido's return.
'A gift'
Battered by an economic meltdown, Venezuela descended into a major political crisis when Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January and asserted that Nicolas Maduro was no longer legitimate.
Nicolas Maduro,voting during the 2018 presidential elections. Source: AAP
Recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's acting president, Juan Guaido flouted a government travel ban on February 22 to head off and rally support for his bid to oust President Maduro.
When he returned to Caracas - his latest challenge to President Maduro's authority - Mr Guaido announced to tens of thousands of supporters his plans for new protests.
He has vowed to set up a transitional government and hold new elections.
US envoy Elliott Abrams said that given President Maduro's low popularity, it would be "a gift" if he decided to run in fresh polls.
"That's ultimately a decision for Venezuelans to make," Mr Abrams said.
He also warned the US is weighing more sanctions to pressure Maduro.
'Paralyzed public administration'
As part of his challenge to President Maduro, Juan Guaido is attempting to take control of the state bureaucracy, which he considers to have been "kidnapped" through blackmail and persecution.
Unions from the oil industry, basic services, the public bank and local government took part in Tuesday's meeting, union leader Ana Yanez told AFP.
"The public administration is practically paralyzed. In the town halls, people only go to work three days a week and even then barely half the day," said Ms Yanez.
President Maduro finally made an appearance in the late afternoon to lead a military parade paying tribute to his predecessor Hugo Chavez on the sixth anniversary of the socialist firebrand's death.
Standing in front of Chavez's mausoleum, President Maduro also called on his supporters to take to the streets on Saturday, to mark "four years since" then-US president Barack Obama first announced sanctions against the socialist government.
President Maduro has done this before, calling his own counter-demonstration every time Juan Guaido announces a protest.
Both attract thousands of supporters, but the opposition gatherings usually have the edge in numbers.
President Maduro had been active on Twitter earlier in the day, again paying tribute to Chavez.
"Thanks to your teachings and your example we're continuing the permanent fight against those who tried so many times to extinguish your voice," wrote the president.
During his travels, Juan Guaido met US Vice President Mike Pence and the leaders of Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador.
He crossed into Colombia on February 23 to lead a bid to bring in humanitarian aid stockpiled near the border, but the move was blocked by the military and security forces in a day of chaos and bloodshed.
Venezuela is wracked by a humanitarian crisis that has seen poverty soar, with an estimated 2.7 million people leaving the country since 2015.
