Venezuela pro-democracy figurehead Maria Corina Machado was briefly detained by security forces Thursday after emerging from months of hiding to lead a protest in Caracas, defiantly promising after her release that her country "will be FREE!

Thursday was marked by massive marches and a confused high-profile abduction in Venezuela, on the same day that Canada recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate president of the country.

Despite widespread domestic and international dissent, the Chavista president is pressing ahead with plans to be sworn in for another term on Friday

The Spanish government on Thursday expressed its "total condemnation" of the arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Caracas during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro.

González left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after a judge issued ... children were nowhere to be seen during morning rush hour in Caracas, and some schools remained closed.

(AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) In this photo provided by the Spanish government in Madrid, exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, left, walks with Spain’s Prime Minister ... Nicolas Maduro the winner in Caracas, Venezuela, July 30, 2024 ...

Maria Corina Machado was arrested while leaving a protest march, local media and party officials report. The opposition is back on the streets on the eve of Nicolas Maduro being sworn in for a third term.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends a military ceremony on his inauguration day for a third term in Caracas, Venezuela ... and General Secretary of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas Asdrubal Aguiar, at the presidential palace ...

María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, was arrested on Thursday while leading a protest against the swearing in of autocratic president Nicolás Maduro.

Maria Corina Machado was briefly detained at a protest march, local media and party officials reported. The opposition was back on the streets as Nicolas Maduro was preparing to be sworn in for a third term.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was detained at a march in Caracas on Thursday in her first public appearance in months and her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, demanded she be freed immediately.