Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was detained at a march in Caracas on Thursday in her first public appearance in months and her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, demanded she be freed immediately.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to be sworn in for a third term on Friday amid protests and international calls for him to stand aside.

Machado’s appearance at the rally was her first public appearance in months, since a government crackdown on Venezeulan opposition figures and their supporters last year.

Maria Corina Machado, a 57-year-old engineer with rock-star appeal, became the fearless figurehead of Venezuela's opposition after being barred from challenging strongman Nicolas Maduro in elections last July.

Police are out in force in the streets of Venezuela’s capital as the opposition calls for major anti-government protests.

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By Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera and Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was freed on Thursday, her Vente Venezuela movement said, shortly after she was detained amid gunshots while leaving a protest in eastern Caracas.

President Nicolás Maduro will extend his increasingly repressive rule over Venezuela until 2031 when he is sworn in on Friday, despite credible evidence that his opponent won the latest election and following protests against his plan to serve a third six-year term.

Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a note issued by her office at Palazzo Chigi on Friday that reports coming from Venezuela "represent another unacceptable act of repression by the regime" of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in as president of Venezuela for the third consecutive time amid protests against him and accusations of electoral fraud.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday condemned the "unacceptable act of repression" in Venezuela, hours after the brief arrest of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.