Tense scenes on the streets of Caracas on Wednesday (May 10) with scores of protesters angry at President Nicolas Maduro clashing with Venezuela's National Guard.

Decrying Venezuela's economic crisis and demanding elections, protesters faced off with heavily-armed riot police. In response, heavy vehicles were brought in to disperse the protesters with water cannon and tear gas used on the crowd.

The latest violence comes after the death of a motorcyclist who was shot in the head. Protesters blame the government's heavy-hand for the rising death toll, which currently stands at at least 39.

Maduro has blamed the country's opposition for stoking violence to remove him from power with the help of the U.S.

The protests come after Maduro announced the creation of a new super body called a "constituent assembly," with authority to rewrite the constitution and shake up public powers. Foes dismiss it as an attempt to keep the socialists in power by establishing a biased new assembly.

Rights group Penal Forum says 1,991 people have been detained since April 1, with 653 still behind bars.

Opposition leaders have complained the government is processing 250 detainees via military courts.