VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro warned citizens not to trust “the gringo empire” as tens of thousands poured onto the streets of Caracas to defend the socialist Bolivarian government from a US-led coup.

The democratically elected leader addressed crowds from the Miraflores palace after cutting all diplomatic ties with Washington following its official recognition of right-wing usurper Juan Guaido’s claim to be the country’s interim president.

Mr Guaido’s illegal declaration was immediately recognised by US President Donald Trump along with the undemocratic European Union and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the darling of the liberals worldwide.

“They went too far. I have decided to break all diplomatic and political relations with the imperialist government of the United States. Out! They can all leave,” Mr Maduro told the crowd of his supporters, having given 72 hours’ notice to the envoys of all countries who refuse to recognise his authority.

“They aim to rule Venezuela from Washington,” he charged.

“Venezuela is respected! Neither coup nor interventionism. Venezuela wants peace, wants progress.

“Don’t trust the gringo empire. That’s what drives their interest — the desire for Venezuelan oil, gas and gold. These do not belong to you, they belong to the sovereign people of Venezuela.”

The country has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, totalling 297 billion barrels, and Mr Maduro, along with his predecessor Hugo Chavez, has long accused the US of wanting to take control of its vast riches.

In a further blow to the US-orchestrated coup attempt, the Venezuelan armed forces have pledged their allegiance to Mr Maduro’s Bolivarian government.

A small number of soliders tried to stage an uprising on Monday, but it ended after a one-hour stand-off.

Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said  the armed forces refuse to accept Mr Guaido as interim president.

“The homeland’s soldiers don’t accept a president imposed by obscure interests or self-proclaimed unlawfully,” he said promising that the military would defend Venezuela’s constitution and national sovereignty.

Despite the claims of the EU, US and their imperialist allies, the Venezuelan electoral system has been deemed “watertight” by many observers, including former US president Jimmy Carter.

Opposition groups boycotted both the presidential election and voting for the Constituent Assembly, with armed thugs using use of violence and intimidation in an effort to prevent citizens from casting their ballots.