Edmundo González, recognized by the U.S. as Venezuela’s president-elect, is on a mission to bolster global support before strongman Nicolás Maduro is sworn in this week.

Tensions have been growing in Venezuela ahead of Thursday's rallies in which opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has promised to end months of hiding to meet her supporters on the street. (AP/ Andr

CARACAS/ASUNCION (Reuters) -Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with Paraguay on Monday, with Paraguay expelling Venezuela's diplomats in the country in return, a day after Paraguayan President Santiago Pena expressed support for Venezuela's opposition.

Venezuelan opposition parties and NGOs decried the arrests of a prominent press freedom activist and a well-known opposition figure, among others, ahead of planned protests against Friday's inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro for his third term.

Opponents of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro will take to the streets Thursday, in a last-ditch bid to prevent him from being sworn in for a highly controversial third term as president.Ruling party loyalists have also taken to the streets in a blunt warning to their opponents.

Two Americans have been arrested in Venezuela, with President Nicolas Maduro claiming the charges relate to an intent to "practice terrorism against the Venezuelan people."