Venezuelan authorities confirmed Nicolas Maduro's election win on Friday even as more countries acknowledged his opposition rival as the rightful victor.

With tension rising after Sunday's contested presidential vote, the oil-rich nation prepared for new protests as both Maduro and the opposition urged their supporters to rally this weekend.

On Friday, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay recognised opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela, joining the United States and Peru in rejecting the official results.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s election authority confirmed Maduro's victory with 52 percent of the vote, stating that Gonzalez Urrutia received 43 percent of the ballots.

Maduro, 61, has responded angrily to criticism of his victory, threatening opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her presidential candidate Gonzalez Urrutia, stating they “should be behind bars.”

Gonzalez Urrutia did not attend a hearing at the Supreme Court after Maduro requested the tribunal investigate and certify the election result.

However, other opposition candidates at the hearing called for a detailed vote count to be made public.

Voting records are "fundamental for transparency, they are fundamental for peace," said Enrique Marquez, who also ran against Maduro as part of a smaller opposition group.

Machado, who had been barred from running herself, wrote in The Wall Street Journal that she was in hiding and "fearing for my life," along with other opposition leaders.

She called on supporters to gather on Saturday in cities across the country to "assert the truth" about the opposition's victory.

"We have the evidence and the world already recognizes it," Machado wrote on social media platform X.

Maduro, for his part, has called for daily mobilisation, with "the mother of all marches to celebrate the victory of peace" to be held on Saturday.

He accused the opposition of plotting "an attack" and ordered police to protect Caracas "and these areas that are under threat."

In a news conference from the presidential palace, Maduro denounced "a coup led by the United States, the international far right, and unbridled capitalism."

The NGO Foro Penal reported 11 deaths during protests on Monday and Tuesday as Venezuelans took to the streets, claiming their votes had been stolen. Machado stated that at least 20 people had been killed.

The crackdown on protests has sparked fear among opposition supporters.

"We have dead, wounded, detainees, missing people. ... People know it. They are afraid. They know they are going to find themselves facing armed people ... ferocious wolves," said Katiusca Camargo, an activist in the Petare slum in eastern Caracas.

This week, the opposition launched a website displaying copies of 84% of the ballots cast, indicating a clear win for Gonzalez Urrutia. The government claims these ballots are forged.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said on Thursday that there was "overwhelming evidence" Gonzalez Urrutia had won the election.

On Friday, Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino declared that Gonzalez Urrutia was the "legitimate winner and president-elect." Peru has also recognised the 74-year-old retired diplomat as the rightful winner.

Uruguay said it was "clear" Gonzalez Urrutia had obtained the majority of votes. Ecuador called him the "legitimate winner" and Costa Rica said his victory was "indisputable."

In a joint statement, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico urged an "impartial verification" of the result, also calling for Caracas to publish voting data broken down by polling stations.

Maduro's previous reelection in 2018 was rejected by dozens of Latin American countries, as well as the United States and EU members.

Years of damaging US sanctions have failed to dislodge Maduro, who enjoys loyalty from the military leadership, electoral bodies, courts, and other state institutions, along with the backing of Russia, China, and Cuba.

Image source: AP