UPDATE 3-Venezuela gov't announces new congress leader, opposition denounces fraud

Venezuela's government on Sunday announced that a dissident opposition legislator was the new head of congress, a move opposition leaders said amounted to a "parliamentary coup" by the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Opposition legislators had expected on Sunday to re-elect Juan Guaido as the head of congress, but security forces set up barricades in downtown Caracas that blocked some lawmakers from reaching the legislative palace.

Legislator Luis Parra, who was recently expelled by opposition party First Justice on corruption allegations that he denies, was shown on state television taking part in what appeared to be an improvised swearing-in ceremony. State television news anchors later described him as the new head of congress.

Guaido's press team said the move was illegal because there were not enough legislators present to hold a vote. Guaido last year assumed a rival interim presidency after denouncing Maduro's 2018 re-election as a fraud, winning the recognition of the United States and most Latin American nations.

Maduro, who has the support of allies including Russia and China, denounces him as a puppet of the United States.