Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose nearly 12 years in office have been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, has been sworn in for a third term, staying in power despite a six-month dispute over an election and international calls for him to stand aside.
Maduro, president since 2013, was declared the winner of July's election by both Venezuela's electoral authority and top court, though detailed tallies confirming his victory have never been published.
Maduro was sworn in at the national assembly in Caracas on Friday by legislature head Jorge Rodriguez, with Maduro saying he was taking his oath in the name of sixteenth-century Indigenous leader Guaicaipuro and late President Hugo Chavez, his mentor, among others.
"May this new presidential term be a period of peace, of prosperity, of equality and the new democracy," Maduro said, adding he would comply with the laws of the country.
"I swear on history, on my life and I will fulfil (my mandate), we will fulfil."
Venezuela's opposition says ballot box-level tallies show a landslide win for its former candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is recognised as president-elect by several countries including the United States. International election observers said the vote was unfair.
The months since the election have seen Gonzalez's flight to Spain in September, his ally Maria Corina Machado going into hiding in Venezuela, and the detentions of high-profile opposition figures and protesters.
Gonzalez, who has been on a whistle-stop tour of the Americas this week, has said he will return to Venezuela to take up the mantle of president, but has given no details.
The government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, has said Gonzalez will be arrested if he returns and offered a $US100,000 ($A161,556) reward for information leading to his capture.
Venezuela had closed its borders and airspace to Colombia for a period of 72 hours, the foreign ministry in Bogota said in a statement, adding that the border on the Colombian side would remain open.
Both Gonzalez and Machado are being investigated by the attorney general's office for alleged conspiracy, but only Gonzalez has a public warrant out for his arrest.
Machado's first public appearance since August at an anti-government march in Caracas on Thursday was marred by a brief detention.
Her Vente Venezuela political movement said guns were fired and Machado was knocked off the motorcycle on which she was leaving the event. She was then held and forced to film several videos, it said.
"I am now in a safe place and with more determination than ever before to continue with you until the end!" Machado - who was barred from running in the election - said in a post on X after her release.
The government scoffed at the incident and denied any involvement, saying the opposition had orchestrated it to generate support for Machado.
The opposition, non-governmental organisations and international bodies such as the United Nations have for years decried increasing repression of opposition political parties, activists and independent media in Venezuela.
US President-elect Donald Trump has said the country is being run by a dictator.
Venezuela's economy has experienced a prolonged crisis marked by triple-digit inflation and the exodus of more than seven million migrants seeking better opportunities abroad.
Many of Machado's supporters, among them retired Venezuelans who would like to see their children and grandchildren return to the country, say jobs, inflation and unreliable public services are among their top concerns.
