VENEZUELA’S elections council (CNE) postponed next week’s petition for a presidential recall referendum on Thursday over allegations of fraud.

Courts in five states found irregularities in the earlier stage of petitioning, when the right-wing opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (Mud) had to garner the signatures of 1 per cent of the national electorate.

The Mud was preparing to collect 3.9 million signatures between Wednesday and Friday next week — 20 per cent of registered voters — for the removal of United Socialist Party (PSUV) President Nicolas Maduro.

In addition, the Carabobo state penal court slapped bans on eight opposition leaders leaving the country.

They included Mud secretary-general Jesus Torrealba and Mud-affiliated Justice First (PJ) party leader Henrique Capriles.

PSUV vice-president Diosdado Cabello hoped those responsible “will go to prison for the swindle they have made.”

Mr Capriles took to Twitter on Thursday night, complaining: “Once again they are wasting their time!” and warning: “Watch the news in the next few hours!”

Earlier he tweeted his rage at the CNE decision, appealing to foreign nations’ ambassadors to intervene.

“In the next few hours we will consult the Venezuelan people and the international community over the most grave act committed against the constitution,” he said.

Mud MP and former presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado, who led the failed 2004 recall attempt against late president Hugo Chavez, called for regime change protests: “Every single person must take to the streets, with strength and without fear, to make the transition a reality.”