CARACAS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday demanded that the United States cease its policy of intervention in the South American nation, as well as across Latin America and the Caribbean.

"From Venezuela, we ask and demand an end to the United States government's illegal and brutal interventionism in Venezuela and in Latin America," the president said as he addressed a demonstration in Caracas in defense of national sovereignty, on the 166th anniversary of the historic Battle of Santa Ines.

"From Venezuela, we demand: enough with regime change policies, coups d'etat, and invasions around the world," Maduro said.

He also thanked U.S. citizens for protesting against a potential war with Venezuela, highlighting a growing and powerful movement of public opinion that rejects U.S. military hostility against his country.

For almost four months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking -- a claim Venezuela has denounced as a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas. ■