Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has strongly criticised opposition protesters for setting a man on fire during a demonstration, accusing them of targeting him for being pro-government.
"A person was set on fire, beaten up, stabbed... They nearly lynched him, just because he shouted out that he was a 'Chavista'," Maduro said on Sunday, referring to the ruling socialist movement set up by his predecessor Hugo Chavez.
Witnesses to the incident on Saturday afternoon, including a Reuters photographer, said the crowd had accused the man of being a thief.
About 100 people, who had been participating in anti-Maduro protests, surrounded him, doused him in petrol and set him alight in Plaza Altamira in east Caracas, the witnesses said.
Though some in the crowd said he should die, others helped him and the man survived.
Showing a video of the incident on state TV, Maduro identified the man as Orlando Figuera, 21, saying he was being treated in hospital for severe burns.
Images from the scene showed him running near-naked with flames on his back.
"Burning a person because he seems a Chavista is a hate crime and a crime against humanity," Maduro said on his weekly TV program, also showing another video of someone being beaten up, as well as images of protesters throwing Molotov cocktails.
A man is set on fire by protesters during an opposition demonstration in Caracas. He survived. Source: AAP
The 54-year-old president says protesters are seeking a violent coup against him with US help, and are increasingly persecuting "Chavistas" at home and abroad.
"Venezuela is facing ... a coup movement that has turned into hatred and intolerance, very similar to Nazi fascism," he said.
Venezuela's opposition says Maduro has become a dictator, wrecked the OPEC nation's economy, caused desperation by thwarting an electoral exit to the political crisis, and unleashed repression and torture on protesters.
"Maduro, Murderer!" can be seen daubed on roads and walls in many parts of Caracas.
The main demand of opponents, who now have majority support after years in the shadow of the ruling Socialist Party, is for a national vote.
But authorities blocked an opposition push for a referendum last year, delayed state elections, and are resisting calls to bring forward the next presidential election scheduled for late 2019.
