The Venezuela government of President Nicolas Maduro must allow peaceful protests and freedom of expression, the United Nations said in an appeal for calm ahead of Sunday's elections for the new Constituent Assembly.
The US government ordered family members of employees at its embassy in Venezuela to leave as a political crisis deepened ahead of a vote critics contend will end democracy in the oil-rich country.
"The wishes of the Venezuelan people to participate or not in this election need to be respected.
"No one should be obliged to vote, while those willing to take part should be able to do so freely," UN human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a briefing.
"We hope that the poll scheduled for Sunday, if it goes ahead, will proceed peacefully and in full respect of human rights."
The UN appeal comes as clashes between Venezuelan security forces and demonstrators left five people dead during the latest opposition-led strike to protest the election.
As Venezuela's crisis deepened, Colombian airline Avianca cancelled its operations in the country.
Critics of President Maduro were planning to pile more pressure on the unpopular leftist leader by holding a major protest dubbed 'The takeover of Venezuela' today.
Interior Minister Nestor Reverol warned that protests were banned from today until Tuesday, leaving open the likelihood of more violence.
Many Venezuelans are nervous and have been stocking up on food and staying home.
US President Donald Trump has warned that his administration could impose economic sanctions on Venezuela if it goes ahead with the vote to create a legislative superbody known as the Constituent Assembly.
The Constituent Assembly would have power to rewrite the constitution and shut down the existing opposition-led legislature, which the opposition maintains would cement dictatorship in Venezuela.
At least 108 people have died in anti-government unrest convulsing Venezuela since April, when the opposition launched protests demanding free and fair elections to end nearly two decades of socialist rule.
