Published election results have spurred widespread allegations of fraud and mass protests throughout Venezuela.

Thousands of Venezuelans marched across the South American nation on Saturday in response to the contentious elections. President Nicolas Maduro addressed his supporters, asserting that around 2000 people had been arrested during protests against the election results and warned that there would be no forgiveness this time.

The Venezuelan electoral commission, criticized for bias favoring the ruling socialists, declared Maduro the winner of the presidential elections held the previous Sunday, announcing he received 51% of the vote compared to 46% for opposition candidate Edmund Gonzalez.

As soon as the results were declared, security forces began clamping down on protestors, whom Maduro's administration has labeled as part of a US-backed coup attempt.

This time there will be no forgiveness, Maduro told supporters at a rally in Caracas, where he mentioned the arrest of about 2000 people linked to crimes during the protests. Maduro's supporters insist they are defending democracy.

Today we hear our president's call to defend democracy, said Alfredo Valera, president of the Venezuelan union Fontur, participating in a pro-government procession in Caracas.

Meanwhile, opposition supporters marched demanding justice, encouraged by the appearance of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who had come out of hiding to join the protests in the streets of Caracas.

As it took us a long time to achieve electoral victory, now comes a phase we tackle day by day, but we have never been stronger than today, never, Machado told supporters in Caracas.

Supporters were elated to see Machado on the streets, especially after she had penned an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, stating she was in hiding and feared for her life.

Protests also occurred in other cities, including Valencia, Maracaibo, and San Cristobal.

I can't deny it is somewhat scary to see security forces passing by, remarked Maria Luzardo, a 46-year-old vendor in San Cristobal. If Machado is brave enough to be out on the streets despite threats, then so are we. Venezuela calls us.

To date, at least 20 people have been killed in post-election protests, according to various sources, including the American Human Rights Watch.

Throughout the week, some Venezuelans appeared outside police stations seeking news on detained family members.

The Washington-based Organization of American States (OAS) called for peace in Venezuela ahead of planned protests.

Today we appeal for no more political prisoners, no more tortured individuals, no more disappearances, no more deaths, announced the OAS, which this week described the election results as illegitimate.

Countries including the USA and Argentina have already recognized Gonzalez as the election winner, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating on Thursday that the evidence of Gonzalez's victory was indisputable.

Other nations, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay, also concluded on Friday that Gonzalez had secured the most votes. Conversely, countries such as Russia, China, and Cuba congratulated Maduro on his victory.