President-elect Donald Trump says Venezuela's embattled opposition leader must be protected as President Nicolas Maduro takes the oath of office for a third six-year 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.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she is now safe after her aides said she was “intercepted” at a protest in Caracas on the eve of President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration.

Police are out in force in the streets of Venezuela’s capital as the opposition calls for major anti-government protests.

Machado was released after a brief detention while leaving a protest in Caracas Thursday on the eve of President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration.

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.

I'm good, I'm safe,” Machado said, adding “Venezuela will be free.” Supporters are protesting against President Nicolas Maduro.

During her detention, an aide said, Maria Corina Machado ... Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia Venezuela’s popular opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was briefly detained by adversaries ...

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

“I’m incredibly proud to attend President Trump’s inauguration today, and to be joined by Venezuela’s President-elect Edmundo González ,” U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said.

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The abduction today of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado by President Nicolás Maduro's regime has elicited strong international condemnation and heightened global concern over Venezuela's political crisis.