VENEZUELAN police have smashed an opposition plot to sabotage electricity, gas and water supplies, President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday night.

He said members of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) coalition had been “caught red-handed.”

Speaking from Vargas state, where he was meeting candidates of his United Socialist Party (PSUV) in this month’s regional elections, Mr Maduro said: “We have our hands on part of this group.”