Thousands of supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro marched in Caracas on Saturday in a show of strength after this week's deadly violence at opposition street protests.

Meanwhile, in a well-off eastern part of the capital, several hundred protesters gathered to demand that the president resign.

Almost a year after he succeeded the late Hugo Chavez, Mr Maduro has accused rivals of stoking unrest to try to stage a coup like the one 12 years ago that briefly ousted Mr Chavez.

But Mr Maduro was not in a retreating mood on Saturday.

"You want to see people in the streets? We'll give you people in the streets," he told the rally, to loud applause and cheers of "No to fascism."

And he mocked the demands of right-wing protesters who want him to step down.

"I'm not going to give up one millimetre of the power the Venezuelan people have given me," he thundered.

"Nothing will stop me from building this revolution which comandante Chavez left us."

Announcing to his supporters that a police manhunt was underway for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Mr Maduro addressed him directly, saying: "You fugitive from justice, trembling with fear, you fascist coward - hand yourself in."

The president said security forces acting on a February 12 arrest order were now looking for the leader of Wednesday's anti-government protests, which resulted in deadly clashes with police and government supporters.

During the wave of opposition violence last week, Tupamaro party leader Juan Montoya was assassinated, the public prosecutor's office was attacked with Molotov cocktails, state-run hotels were attacked, police vehicles were burned and three metro stations were vandalised.

In addition, public hospitals, schools and media outlets were attacked and journalists faced aggression.

Prosecutors said 25 of 99 people arrested had been freed pending trial so far.

But protesters insist they will defy Mr Maduro's ban on unauthorised demonstrations.

Former bus driver and union leader Mr Maduro says Venezuela faces an "economic war" waged by the opposition, backed by US financiers and worsened by speculators.