( CNN ) -- Fierce political rhetoric in Venezuela took a sharp turn Wednesday with a warning from Vice President Nicolas Maduro , who told throngs of supporters that opponents were plotting to murder him . `` We are denouncing this because we have strong evidence , '' Maduro said at a large rally marking the 1958 fall of Venezuela 's dictatorship . `` So do n't get surprised with the actions we will take in the next few hours and the next few days . '' It 's unclear what actions he was referring to , but the Venezuelan vice president said he was committed to cracking down on `` criminals who have infiltrated the country '' that allegedly plan to kill him and Diosdado Cabello , the head of Venezuela 's National Assembly . Maduro 's comments came as Venezuela 's opposition was also rallying in Caracas on a day that has important political significance in the South American country , the anniversary of the end of Marcos Perez Jimenez 's dictatorship . President Hugo Chavez has spoken at past January 23 events , but the Venezuelan leader remains in Cuba and has not made any public appearances for more than six weeks since he underwent cancer surgery there . His long absence has fueled growing speculation about his health and political future . Chavez ally : Ailing president undergoing physical therapy . Political opponents have questioned who is running Venezuela while Chavez is gone . Venezuela 's government has offered conflicting assessments of the situation but maintained that Chavez is in charge . On Tuesday , Venezuela 's information minister said that Chavez was making encouraging progress , but there was no date planned for his return to Caracas . Maduro told the crowd Wednesday that Chavez was `` pressing on uphill '' as he recovers from cancer surgery in Havana , Cuba . A large picture of the president hung behind Venezuelan leaders on a stage at Wednesday 's rally . Maduro said he would head to Cuba to visit Chavez later in the day . In an incendiary speech , he called for the use of an iron fist . `` He who makes a mistake has to go to prison . He who violates the constitution and the peace of this country has to go to prison . And do n't you come back crying after the fact and claiming to be political prisoners , '' Maduro said . `` Iron fist against the conspiracy of the right . Iron fist of all the people , the government and the powers . '' Venezuelan army backs Chavez amid uncertainty . He accused infiltrators of a conspiracy to pit him and Cabello against each other . `` They 've orchestrated a macabre and criminal plot with the purpose of killing us , something they wo n't be able to achieve , '' he said . `` Their plan is to kill one of us and then blame the other for it . That 's what they 're planning to do . '' Political rhetoric in Venezuela is often intense . On the campaign trail last year , it was not uncommon for Chavez to sprinkle speeches with insults aimed at his political rival , opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski . Before masses of supporters and in state television interviews broadcast nationwide , Chavez described Capriles as a `` dirty swine '' and a `` fly '' who was not worth chasing . He called him a `` little Yankee '' and assailed him as a member of the bourgeoisie . During Chavez 's absence in recent weeks , government officials have repeatedly accused political opponents of trying to destabilize the country with a campaign of rumors about the president 's health .
Venezuelan vice president : `` Do n't get surprised by the actions we will take '' The US has been trying to overthrow Chavez for a long time His comments come on the anniversary of the end of a dictatorship in Venezuela . Venezuela 's opposition also staged a rally Wednesday in Caracas .