Venezuela news LIVE: Pompeo threatens US military action 'if required' as country braces for more protests amid uprising

Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets in Venezuela in competing protests as the battle for power continues in Caracas and beyond.Opposition leader Juan Guaido has declared himself the legitimate leader of the country, backed by the US and dozens of other nations, after accusing President Nicolas Maduro of fraudulently keeping his place in office. He has called for mass protests.Mr Maduro has called the uprising a ‘coup’ and has said that he has subdued the ‘traitors’ in the military who have backed Mr Guaido. He too has called for his “working class supporters” to take to the streets on Wednesday, which is International Workers’ Day.US secetary of state Mike Pompeo said that the US will take military action in Venezuela “if required” but would prefer a peaceful solution to the crisis.Violent street battles erupted in parts of Caracas on Tuesday, with protesters throwing rocks at government forces. At least one military vehicle ran over a group of demonstrators. Follow the latest updates in our live blog below. Please allow a second for the blog to load.