A look at the country's ongoing protests against the government of President Maduro and the current political situation.

Venezuela's capital, Caracas, has seen almost daily demonstrations in recent weeks, some of which have turned violent.

Critics are accusing President Nicolas Maduro of moving towards a dictatorship, and want him to resign. But Maduro says the opposition is conspiring with foreign entities, specifically the US, to destabilise the country.

He says the grassroots body is needed to bring peace to Venezuela, where nearly two months of anti-government protests have left more than 50 people dead, but opponents view it as a tactic to buy time and avoid a general election.

"Votes or bullets, what do the people want?" Maduro asked the crowd, presenting the proposed 540-member body. The opposition-controlled National Assembly promptly rejected Maduro's plan.

"The Venezuelan people do not want a fraudulent Madurist constitution and we will not accept it," opposition leader Henrique Capriles tweeted.

The opposition's main demands are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led congress.

The country is in the middle of a crippling economic crisis that has led to high food prices and a lack of basic goods. Maduro says the economic crisis is due to a US-backed capitalist conspiracy.