A defiant Venezuela Pre­sident Nicolas Maduro says he will mobilise four million armed militia fighters to protect Venezuela from US for­ces.

In a televised address on Monday, Maduro said, “This week, I will activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory—militias that are prepared, activated and armed.”

Maduro said “the empire has gone mad”, adding that the Donald Trump admi­nistration is “fabricating extra­vagant lies” and “has regurgitated its threats to Venezuela’s peace and stability”.