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

Run-up to the election has included personal attacks and dirty tricks

“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.

He faces acting President Nicolas Maduro, who has vowed to continue the hardline socialism of his late boss, Hugo Chavez, if he wins the April 14 election. Maduro held a huge rally yesterday in rural Apure state, on the Colombian border.

More often seen filled with the red flags and T-shirts of Chavez’s loyal supporters, the capital’s historic Bolivar Avenue was packed with opposition supporters decked out in the blue, yellow and red of Capriles’ campaign.

“We’re winning this process,” Capriles said, sweating under the hot sun in a burgundy-coloured shirt, rosary beads around his neck and a baseball cap in the colours of Venezuela’s flag.

He said that the day following his election victory would be one of peace and reconciliation among all Venezuelans, and he addressed supporters of Maduro’s government directly.

“Those who put on a red shirt today, I just ask you: open your eyes! I’ll work hard, I’ll shed skin, to win your trust.”

Despite the opposition leader’s optimism, opinion polls give Maduro a lead of more than 10 percentage points.

Opposition supporters marched from different parts of the city to converge on the avenue, where they waved flags, cheered and sang. Around the edges of the rally, groups of red-clad “Chavista” pro-government supporters chanted in favour of Maduro. Both candidates are touring the South American country during a lightning, 10-day campaign ahead of next Sunday’s vote, which was triggered by Chavez’s death from cancer on March 5.

It has been a bitter run-up to the election, with deeply personal attacks and accusations of dirty tricks by both sides.

The race took a somewhat surreal turn on Saturday when Maduro said a centuries-old curse would fall on the heads of those who do not vote for him.