Thousands gather in Caracas to support opposition presidential candidate (video)

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan opposition supporters rallied in a staunchly pro-government part of the capital, supporting their candidate Henrique Capriles and showing strength a week before the presidential election. 

"Today the streets of Caracas are full of happiness and hope, confirming what will happen next Sunday," Capriles, the 40-year-old governor of Miranda state, told the crowd.

Opposition supporters marched from different parts of the city to converge on the avenue, where they waved flags, cheered and sang. They were wearing blue, yellow and red colors in support of Capriles' campaign.

Gisela Quijada, a 68-year-old nurse attending the opposition rally in Caracas, said the country was broken. "Chavez was a leader for them. I can't deny it. But he (Maduro) has nothing in his head. If Capriles doesn't win, we'll keep on fighting for him. But we're sure he's going to win!"

Henrique Capriles faces acting President Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming presidential elections on April 14, which was triggered by Chavez's death from cancer on March 5.

Maduro held a huge rally on Sunday in rural Apure state, on the Colombian border, where he referred to Chavez in adoring terms and played a video from December where the former president endorsed Maduro as his successor.

"He taught us the supreme value of loyalty. With loyalty, everything is possible. Betrayal only brings defeats and curses," Maduro told cheering supporters on Sunday.