President-elect Donald Trump says Venezuela's embattled opposition leader must be protected as President Nicolas Maduro takes the oath of office for a third six-year term.

The Comando Venezuela, the campaign team of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, denounced the “kidnapping” and subsequent release of political leader María Corina Machado, after she led a demonstration in Caracas on the eve of the Venezuelan presidential inauguration.

She’s risking her life by fighting the Venezuelan regime and was briefly held by armed goons.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she is now safe after her aides said she was “intercepted” at a protest in Caracas on the eve of President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was detained at a march in Caracas on Thursday in her first public appearance in months and her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, demanded she be freed immediately.

Maria Corina Machado, a 57-year-old engineer with rock-star appeal, became the fearless figurehead of Venezuela's opposition after being barred from challenging strongman Nicolas Maduro in elections last July.

I'm good, I'm safe,” Machado said, adding “Venezuela will be free.” Supporters are protesting against President Nicolas Maduro.

Police are out in force in the streets of Venezuela’s capital as the opposition calls for major anti-government protests.

During her detention, an aide said, Maria Corina Machado ... Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia Venezuela’s popular opposition leader, María Corina Machado, was briefly detained by adversaries ...

Machado was released after a brief detention while leaving a protest in Caracas Thursday on the eve of President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration.

Despite widespread domestic and international dissent, the Chavista president is pressing ahead with plans to be sworn in for another term on Friday

María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, was arrested on Thursday while leading a protest against the swearing in of autocratic president Nicolás Maduro.