Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked if political rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was 'hiding in a cave' while addressing supporters in Caracas on Saturday as protests against his victory in the recent elections continue.
Footage shows Maduro greeting supporters and dancing amid the crowds before taking to a stage to deliver his address.
"Millions of people were going to take to the streets, and I can say that the influencers and artists of Miami failed. They failed and cannot handle the people of Venezuela," he said.
"Where is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia hiding?" the president continued. "Did he win? Could it be that he won a raffle to hide? In a cave? He is hidden in a cave and preparing for his escape from Venezuela."
The rally in Caracas comes amid widespread protests following Maduro's victory in July's presidential election. The National Electoral Council declared he had won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote.
Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro after his re-election, while the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition claimed it won with more than 70 per cent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Maduro's main opponent, claimed he was the legitimate winner. At the same time, Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations, which she denies.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez Urrutia as the presidential election winner and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data. In the meantime, Maduro took to the Supreme Court to have his victory confirmed, and the country's election authority said it had handed the election data to the court.
Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela has governed the country since 2007. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked if political rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was 'hiding in a cave' while addressing supporters in Caracas on Saturday as protests against his victory in the recent elections continue.
Footage shows Maduro greeting supporters and dancing amid the crowds before taking to a stage to deliver his address.
"Millions of people were going to take to the streets, and I can say that the influencers and artists of Miami failed. They failed and cannot handle the people of Venezuela," he said.
"Where is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia hiding?" the president continued. "Did he win? Could it be that he won a raffle to hide? In a cave? He is hidden in a cave and preparing for his escape from Venezuela."
The rally in Caracas comes amid widespread protests following Maduro's victory in July's presidential election. The National Electoral Council declared he had won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote.
Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro after his re-election, while the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition claimed it won with more than 70 per cent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Maduro's main opponent, claimed he was the legitimate winner. At the same time, Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations, which she denies.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez Urrutia as the presidential election winner and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data. In the meantime, Maduro took to the Supreme Court to have his victory confirmed, and the country's election authority said it had handed the election data to the court.
Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela has governed the country since 2007. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked if political rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was 'hiding in a cave' while addressing supporters in Caracas on Saturday as protests against his victory in the recent elections continue.
Footage shows Maduro greeting supporters and dancing amid the crowds before taking to a stage to deliver his address.
"Millions of people were going to take to the streets, and I can say that the influencers and artists of Miami failed. They failed and cannot handle the people of Venezuela," he said.
"Where is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia hiding?" the president continued. "Did he win? Could it be that he won a raffle to hide? In a cave? He is hidden in a cave and preparing for his escape from Venezuela."
The rally in Caracas comes amid widespread protests following Maduro's victory in July's presidential election. The National Electoral Council declared he had won a historic third term with 51 percent of the vote.
Russia, China, and others congratulated Maduro after his re-election, while the US said it had 'serious concerns' about the vote. The opposition claimed it won with more than 70 per cent of the votes cast, although it did not provide any evidence.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Maduro's main opponent, claimed he was the legitimate winner. At the same time, Maria Corina Machado backed Gonzalez after she was banned from taking part amid corruption allegations, which she denies.
The United States and several Latin American countries have recognised Gonzalez Urrutia as the presidential election winner and have called on Venezuela's election officials to release their data. In the meantime, Maduro took to the Supreme Court to have his victory confirmed, and the country's election authority said it had handed the election data to the court.
Maduro has been in power since 2013, while his United Socialist Party of Venezuela has governed the country since 2007. Around 17 million people were eligible to vote.