Violent clashes unfolded all day outside La Carlota base, where thousands of flag-waving opposition demonstrators took a stand alongside a dozen rebel soldiers, wearing blue armbands to show their new allegiance.

It was outside the National Guard base that Guaido filmed a video, posted online on Tuesday morning, in which the self-proclaimed acting president claimed to have the support of “brave soldiers.”

“We’re also people and we’re fed up with this dictatorship,” said one of the soldiers backing the 35-year-old National Assembly leader.

“We have families, we’re know how they’re suffering,” said the soldier, still in uniform and carrying a gun on his shoulder, in brief comments to AFP before he was asked by a senior officer to halt the interview.