Violent scenes broke out in Venezuela after the country's opposition leader called for a military uprising.
Juan Guaido took to the streets with a small contingent of heavily armed troops early on Tuesday, in a bold attempt to oust socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.
As chaos ensued a Venezuelan National Guard vehicle reportedly drove into crowds of protesters outside a military base in Caracas, who were throwing stones and hitting vehicles with sticks.
Mr Maduro said he had spoken with military leaders and they had shown him "their total loyalty", following Mr Guaido claiming he had the support of troops.
The Standard provided live updates below...
The Standard is pausing its coverage of the incidents in Venezuela for this evening.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said what he described as "right-wing extremists" would not succeed in fracturing the armed forces, which have largely stood with the socialist leader throughout the months of turmoil.
He said:
Since 2002, we've seen the same pattern.
They call for violence, a coup, and send people into the streets so that there are confrontations and deaths. And then from the blood they try to construct a narrative.
Read the latest after violent clashes marred the streets of Caracas today:
The US envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said opposition-led protests in Caracas were part of a broader effort negotiated with three senior officials in President Nicolas Maduro's government to restore constitutional order.
Speaking to reporters at the State Department, he said the talks involved Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, Supreme Court chief justice Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dela about restoring democracy in the country.
The ambassador to Washington, representing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, said the US played no role in coordinating the uprising in Caracas against President Nicolas Maduro.
Carlos Vecchio, speaking in a news conference, said the protest "is a movement headed by Venezuelans" and the US didn't intervene.
US national security adviser John Bolton has singled out three senior aides to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro he said must make good on commitments they purportedly made to the opposition for a peaceful transition away from Maduro's rule.
Speaking at the White House, during a day of anti-government protests in Venezuela, Mr Bolton named Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, Supreme Court chief judge Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala.
He said they had told the opposition that President Maduro needed to give up power to opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Dozens of Venezuelan exiles have tied blue ribbons to their right arms and packed a small Venezuelan diner in the Miami suburb of Doral.
Some shouted "Long Live Venezuela" and "Freedom" and others wept as they sang the nation's anthem.
Photo by: EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA