Maria Corina Machado, a 57-year-old engineer with rock-star appeal, became the fearless figurehead of Venezuela's opposition after being barred from challenging strongman Nicolas Maduro in elections last July.

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.

Aides to Maria Corina Machado say the Venezuela opposition leader has been arrested when her convoy was intercepted by security forces as it departed an anti-government protest in Caracas.

Machado's reappearrance coincided with the announcement of Edmundo González in the Dominican Republic of returning to Caracas to assume the presidency.View on euronews

The brief arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado provoked swift condemnations on Thursday from political leaders across the globe, punctuated by calls for her right to free speech and personal safety.

Security forces fired on her convoy and detained Machado after she came out of hiding in a bid to block the president from clinging to power.

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

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been freed after being detained upon leaving a protest in Caracas Thursday against President Nicolas Maduro, who she accuses of stealing a presidential election last July,

Government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, said her arrest was fabricated by the opposition in a bid to generate support for her movement.

Fear of repression in Venezuela has escalated in recent days as the inauguration of Maduro's third term approaches on Friday, following last year's contested presidential election, CNN reported

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado confirmed her safety after her aides reported she was “intercepted” during a protest in Caracas, just ahead of President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration,