Venezuela's government Sunday doubled down on its intention to arrest the opposition leader who claims he defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year's election in the form of a threat from the ruling party-controlled congress.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia called Sunday for the military to recognize him as commander-in-chief, as he continued an international tour seeking to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has urged supporters to demonstrate across the country, telling them in a video message that President Nicolás Maduro will not step down on his own and they “must make him leave.

González, who the United States recognized as the winner of last year's presidential election in Venezuela, kicked off an international tour on Saturday that will take him to Washington.