Venezuela: Opposition leader Machado returns from exile, received by thousands of supporters in Caracas

Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters in Caracas on Sunday after returning from nearly a year in exile.

Her supporters stood along highways, toll plazas and city streets waving Venezuelan flags and chanting slogans like "freedom" as Machado made her way in a convoy of cars and motorcycles to the capital, Caracas.

Wearing her trademark white T-shirt and blue jeans, she leaned out of the sunroof and shouted "this country is giving lessons to everyone" as her convoy entered the capital.

In Guacara earlier, the AFP news agency reported seeing Machado singing the national anthem in a plaza packed with supporters, waving flags and cheering her return.   

Why was Machado in exile? 

Machado left Venezuela last December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting democracy in autocratic Venezuela.

Facing arrest by the regime of former President Nicolas Maduro, she sought refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas and was smuggled out of the country with assistance from the United States.

At first she was unable to return for fear of detention by authorities.

After the US-led ouster and arrest of Maduro, she gave her Nobel medal to US President Donald Trump.

However, her inability to return to Venezuela for so long was partly due to the Trump administration.

Instead of backing Machado, Washington decided to support interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

Machado has said she faced travel restrictions and flight cancellations, partly due to Trump's worries that her presence in Venezuela could inflame tensions during a period of transition, and partly due to Rodriguez' interference.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn 

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