Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura oversees military exercises

Nicolas Maduro toured military bases in Venezuela at the weekend as he urged troops to remain loyal to his regime and announced massive drills to take place next month. Maduro called the drills 'the most important in our history' as he gave a rousing speech to troops in which he asked whether they were part of a coup to depose him, to which they shouted: 'No, chief commander!' The military is now key to Maduro maintaining his grip on power after he was denounced by world governments who called for fresh elections and for him to step down. Juan Guaido, who is challenging Maduro, has called on soldiers to lay down their weapons ahead of mass demonstrations due this week.