STORY: Government supporters marched on Saturday (January 10) in Caracas calling for the release of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, one week after their capture by U.S. forces sparked protests and diplomatic tensions.

Caracas was rocked early on January 3 by U.S. strikes and Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. Special Forces.

Pro-Maduro Venezuelans carried posters of the detained leader and his spouse on Saturday, protesting against the U.S. military operation and demanding the "immediate liberation" of the couple.

Maduro faces four U.S. federal criminal counts that include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. He pleaded not guilty. His next court date is set for March 17. His wife, Cilia Flores, faces the same charges except for narco-terrorism. She also pleaded not guilty.

The remaining Venezuelan government has put in place a state of emergency since the attack. It has issued orders for police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," according to a text of the decree published on Monday (January 5).

Marchers also expressed solidarity with the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed leadership.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 10, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING

2. PEOPLE MARCHING WITH POSTERS SHOWING IMAGES OF NICOLAS MADURO AND CILIA FLORES

3. DRAWING OF NICOLAS MADURO AND CILIA FLORES

4. PEOPLE MARCHING WITH POSTERS SHOWING IMAGES OF NICOLAS MADURO AND CILIA FLORES

5. PERSON HOLDING POSTER WITH IMAGE OF NICOLAS MADURO AND CILIA FLORES, READING (English): "BRING THEM BACK"

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CULTURAL WORKER, JOSE MELENDEZ, SAYING:

"After a week of this terrible situation that we have lived in our country, the Venezuelan people is united, fierce, brave people, a people with the lineage of Bolivar, of Zamora (Ed.'s note: independence heroes) and our commander Chavez. We await the prompt release of our president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. We hope that international agreements and everyone can join in favour of the homeland of Bolivar."

7. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MAKING HAND SIGNALS DURING MARCH

8. POSTER READING (English): "NO BLOOD FOR OIL" AND (Spanish) "TRUMP WE ARE UGLY AND YOU ARE A PERVERTED PAEDOPHILE"

9. VARIOUS OF PERSON HOLDING POSTER WITH IMAGE OF CILIA FLORES AND NICOLAS MADURO, READING (Spanish): "THE EMPIRE KIDNAPPED THEM, WE WANT THEM BACK"

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ENTREPRENEUR, JANET RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

"As a Venezuelan, we have to stand up and not abandon (the cause). Our oil belongs to Venezuela, it belongs to Venezuela not to any foreign country and as Venezuelans we will continue fighting and if they come for our benefit, they will be welcomed to our country but we won't let ourselves be intimidated by anyone nor give away what belongs to us as Venezuelans."

11. PEOPLE MARCHING

12. VARIOUS OF PERSON HOLDING ACTION FIGURE OF "SUPER CILITA" (CILIA FLORES)

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LAWYER, FRANCISCO GUERRERO, SAYING:

"We fully trust our acting president Delcy Rodriguez, we know that she is implementing the mechanisms of the Bolivarian democracy of peace that we have always promulgated and managed. We support the decisions made by acting president Delcy Rodriguez regarding this issue."

14. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS DURING MARCH

15. PEOPLE CHANTING (Spanish): "DELCY, GO ON, BECAUSE YOU HAVE MY TRUST"

16. VARIOUS OF PROTESTER HOLDING POSTER WITH IMAGE OF NICOLAS MADURO READING (Spanish): "WE WANT HIM HERE NOW"

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING WITH POSTERS SHOWING IMAGES OF MADURO AND FLORES

18. MURAL WITH IMAGE OF NICOLAS MADURO READING (Spanish): "WE WILL OVERCOME"