Mr Maduro made the shock revelation during a state television broadcast and has since heightened security with the pro-government militia units. The Venezuelan dictator said: "I know about their criminal plans - those who lead the opposition - their plans to kill me.” The defiant leader added ”the country’s military units have been put on alert" with an increase in "intelligence and counterintelligence activities”.
Mr Maduro defended the measures as “constitutional, legitimate and necessary” after he suggested the criminals had been “paid off” by anti-government demonstrators.
In a further move to bulk-up security, Venezuela's deputy foreign minister, Ivan Gil, confirmed allied Russian forces will stay in the country and did not rule out more personnel from being deployed.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin insisted the military specialists were in the region to service pre-existing contracts for the supply of Russian arms.
Venezuela Crisis: A member of Venezuela's Special Action Forces (Image: REUTERS)
Boots on the ground prompted the Washington to intervene, with US Secretary of State
