When no new bolivar notes appeared to replace the old ones, riots and looting erupted in towns across Venezuela, whose economy was already in shambles.

Toward the end of the year, the bolivar weakened some 60 percent to more than 4,000 to the dollar on the black market.

Mr Maduro then decided to delay the deadline to scrap the 100 bolivar note.

Parson, a cattle rancher and former sheriff, said in his statement that he is well and resting at his home in Bolivar.

That helped stem violence, though there were still reports of more lootings in southern Ciudad Bolivar on Sunday.

Disturbances continued into Saturday evening in places such as Ciudad Bolívar, where officials banned motorcycles for 48 hours and restricted overnight car and pedestrian traffic.