President Nicolas Maduro has declared a 60-day state of emergency, due to what he calls plots by opposition forces and the US to overthrow his government.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: Reuters

"Washington is initiating measures at the request of Venezuela's fascist right wing, who were provoked by the coup in Brazil," Reuters quoted Mr. Maduro as saying on state television yesterday.

Mr Maduro signed a declaration declaring a state of emergency and extending the economic emergency to protect the country from internal and external "threats". The Venezuelan president did not provide details of the measures. The state of emergency declared last year in states near the Colombian border suspended constitutional guarantees in those areas, except those related to human rights.

US intelligence officials told reporters earlier on Thursday they were increasingly concerned about the risk of political and economic instability in Venezuela, and predicted Mr. Maduro would likely not complete his term.

Venezuela's opposition is seeking to remove the 53-year-old president amid a worsening crisis that includes food and medicine shortages, frequent power outages, sporadic looting and runaway inflation.

But Mr Maduro is determined to stay in office and accuses the US of fomenting a secret coup against him. He has cited the suspension and trial of Brazil's leftist president, Dilma Rousseff, this week as a sign that he could be next.

According to VNE