Il Nuovo Postiglione - Venezuela protests demand return of Nobel winning leader Machado

Around 2,000 protesters gathered peacefully in Plaza Venezuela, a busy area of Caracas, and more demonstrations were held elsewhere in the country.

"We are calling for presidential elections and the return of our leader Maria Corina Machado," 43-year-old opposition activist Erika Cedeno told AFP.

Protests were also held in the Colombian-border city of Tachira and Bolivar in the northeast, where activists denounced a road closure blocking access to where they'd planned to protest.

In Caracas, protesters carried signs that read "Elections NOW and this time they're not going to steal from us" and "Brave MCM," referring to Machado's initials.

"I'm tired of this. We truly want a new change, we've already had this chavista government in power for long enough, since 1999," 53-year-old seamstress Mayrym Beltran told AFP while marching in Caracas.

Like millions of Venezuelans, Beltran's children have fled Venezuela's flailing economy. She hasn't seen her son in eight years, or her daughter in four.

"I want a new change for me, for you, for everyone," Beltran said, expressing hope for Machado's return and an economic revival.

Machado's party, Vente Venezuela, is calling for presidential elections in 2027.

Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after a US military operation ousted leftist leader Nicolas Maduro in January, has said elections will be held without specifying a date.

Many other opposition leaders have recently returned from exile, and US-backed talks between the interim government and opposition have been underway.

Machado has not taken part.

She lives in exile in Panama and her party says her return has been repeatedly blocked.

"Maria Corina till the end. We're waiting for her, only god knows when she'll arrive, but that she will arrive, she will," Beltran said.

M.Costa--INP