Violent clashes broke out between Venezuelan riot police and anti-Maduro protesters as hundreds marched through the streets in Caracas yesterday (April 30).

Footage shows Venezuela National Guard armoured vehicles deploying a water cannon as protesters hurl rocks towards police at the Highway Francisco Fajardo near La Carlota military base.

A crowd of masked protesters can be seen throwing stones what appears to be a bomb to a police vehicle and setting it on fire.

Tear gas is later fired by Venezuela police and a cloud of smoke invades the highway later on in the video.

The clashes happened after the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó called on Venezuelans and military to back him in what he named ‘’Operation Freedom’’, a final phase of ousting President Nicolas Maduro.

Guaidó’s attempt to spark a military uprising failed and also triggered a violent response from security forces, who used repressive tactics to crush small pockets of protesters.

Meanwhile, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have defeated Guaidó’s ‘attempted coup’ and vowed to remain in government.

Despite Guaidó’s failure to gain military support, the opposition leader remains defiant and has called for mass protests later today (May 1).