In first appearance since rebellion lead by Juan Guaidó, president calls for applause for ‘obedient’ armed forces. Follow updates

• Guaidó supporters take to Venezuela’s streets in new bid to oust Maduro
• US pressures Maduro officials to defect in gambit to tip power struggle

4.15am BST

I am wrapping up this blog shortly.

Tom Phillips has filed a new story on the latest goings-on which he leads with Maduro’s claim that a coup attempt by Juan Guaidó has been defeated. You can read that here:

Related: Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims victory over 'deranged' US-backed coup attempt

4.06am BST

Away from the immediate politics, it’s worth looking at what is happening with the price of oil – Venezuela’s main export and in many ways the source of much of the trouble engulfing the country.

Crude prices dipped in early trade in Asia on Wednesday thanks to a report showing that US inventories were higher than exppected. Spot Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, were at $71.65 per barrel at 01.43 GMT, down 41c, or 0.6%, from their last close.

Related: $100 a barrel? Will Iran sanctions and Venezuela crisis bring oil price spike?

President announces 30-day rationing plan and says pro-government colectivos must ‘defend the peace of every block’

Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro has called on armed pro-government groups to help subdue unrest as he announced a 30-day electricity rationing plan set to inflict further pain on the population.

In a televised address, Maduro said he had no choice but to take drastic measures while his government rebuilt key sections of Venezuela’s national grid following a succession of crippling power failures since 7 March.

Announcement comes as Juan Guaidó’s wife met with Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence in Washington

The opposition figurehead battling to topple Nicolás Maduro has told supporters to prepare for a final nationwide push against Venezuela’s authoritarian leader after the country suffered its fourth massive blackout in less than three weeks.

Addressing a rally in Caracas, Juan Guaidó said it was time for Venezuelans of all social classes to increase pressure through what he called Operación Libertad (Operation Freedom) – a mobilization across the country that would culminate in a massive march through the capital.

Vice-president blames ‘fascist right’ and its ‘imperial masters’ in Washington for power cuts

Nicolás Maduro’s embattled administration has called for calm after millions of Venezuelans were again plunged into darkness by a nationwide blackout reportedly affecting 21 of its 23 states and the capital, Caracas.

In a late-night television broadcast – which most people were unable to watch because of the outage – the communications minister, Jorge Rodríguez, claimed it was the result of a “brutal” attack on a hydroelectric plant on Monday night.