MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

A defiant Guaidó receives a hero's welcome in Caracas and calls for more street mobilizations

“We know the risks we face, that have never stopped us. The regime, the dictatorship must understand,” a defiant Guaido told a delirious crowd

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido received a hero's welcome from thousands of flag-waving supporters chanting “Yes, you can!” as he returned to Caracas on Monday, defying the threat of arrest from embattled President Nicolas Maduro's government.

“We know the risks we face, that's never stopped us. The regime, the dictatorship must understand,” a defiant Guaido, who has been recognized as acting president by more than 50 countries, told a delirious crowd.

“We're stronger than ever, let's carry on in the streets, mobilized.”

Supporters, media, and diplomats from allied countries mobbed Guaido on his arrival at the international airport in Caracas before he headed into the city for a tumultuous homecoming by thousands of supporters.

There, Guaido announced a new protest march for Saturday to ramp up the pressure on Maduro. “All of Venezuela will return to the streets. We will not rest one second until freedom is achieved,” he said.

Venezuelans holding aloft flags, crosses and portraits of their young leader chanted: “Guaido! Guaido!” and “Yes you can!”

Just before his arrival, US Vice President Mike Pence sent a warning to Maduro to ensure Guaido's safety, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later hailed his “safe return.”

“Any threats, violence, or intimidation against him will not be tolerated & will be met with swift response,” Pence wrote on Twitter.

Pompeo said in a statement that “the international community must unite and push for the end of Maduro's brutal regime.”

Guaido left Venezuela 10 days ago in an unsuccessful bid to force through desperately needed humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia. He then went on a tour of regional allies Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador.

Guaido's reappearance in Venezuela poses a direct challenge to socialist Maduro, who had said the opposition leader would face justice when he returned.

Maduro must decide whether to arrest Guaido for defying a travel ban - thereby provoking strong international condemnation - or allow him to enter and remain unmolested, which would undermine his own authority, analyst say.

“They won't stop us with threats, we're stronger and more united than ever and looking to the future,” Guaido told his supporters, holding up his passport in a message of defiance to Maduro's government.

Other demonstrations took place all over Venezuela without major incident.

The high command has professed absolute loyalty to Maduro, and the military has blockaded the border to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid.

Guaido has said some 300,000 people are at risk of death without those supplies of food and medicine.

He reiterated his call for the armed forces to abandon Maduro and to rein in the pro-regime armed civilian militias known as “colectivos.”

Maduro enjoys strong support from Russia, which accuses Washington of interventionism, and China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars in loans to Maduro's regime.

The socialist president warned last week that Guaido should “respect the law” and would have to “face justice” upon his return.