CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) —  Various protests marched through Caracas on Tuesday, vying to make their voices heard ahead of Venezuelan political transition talks launching later this week.

Earlier this month, the interim government and a group of former opposition lawmakers announced a work plan backed by the United States for “strengthening democracy.”

But interim leader Delcy Rodriguez is negotiating “with a gun to her head,” leftists marching through the capital on Tuesday insisted.

Supporters of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado meanwhile called for elections to ensure a genuine political transition.

Rodriguez has been governing under Washington’s watchful eye since US forces abducted president Nicolas Maduro in January.

Exiled opposition leader Machado has ruled out her attendance at the talks due to start Saturday.

Around 300 of her supporters on Tuesday demanded that elections be held as soon as possible.

“If we want a transition, we have to go to an election,” said Machado’s party spokesperson Henry Alviarez.

“When they set the election date, that’s when the transition begins,” he added.

Other protest attendees voiced scepticism about the upcoming talks to be chaired by parliamentary chief Jorge Rodriguez — the interim leader’s brother — and opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.

“We no longer believe in dialogue, we believe in action,” said 64-year-old lawyer Jose Fuenmayor.

“What this regime has shown is that they always want to buy time,” he said.

Supporters of late leftist leader Hugo Chavez — Maduro’s predecessor and mentor — meanwhile denounced a heavy American influence behind governmental participation in the upcoming talks.

Rodriguez, who formerly served as Maduro’s vice president, “has a gun to her head, that is something that must not be ignored,”  said retiree Carmen Montes at the rally in downtown Caracas.

With a John Lennon tattoo on her arm and a red scarf around her neck, the 70-year-old retiree noted the “pain” Venezuela was experiencing following the deadly quakes that struck on June 24, killing over 5,000 people.

While others criticise the slow official response, Montes said the government “is giving its all” to rebuild the decimated quake zone.

Public servant Noel Urbina, 45, noted a “very strong unease” among Chavistas after the US “invasion” of Venezuela, noting that the January 3 operation had killed around 100 people.

“How are we going to negotiate with people abroad who promoted hideouts here, who promoted invasions?” Urbina added, referring to talks with the opposition.

He does not believe Chavistas would propose a candidate if elections were to occur, nor would they support Rodriguez.