CARACAS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Sunday lauded the Montevideo Mechanism as a viable way to address his country's political crisis and avoid armed conflicts.

"The Montevideo Mechanism ... is the most sincere and rigorous initiative that has been proposed," Arreaza said via Twitter.

"President Nicolas Maduro called for its activation yesterday. Dialogue and politics are always the way to go. War and violence have no place in Venezuela," the minister added.

Jointly proposed by Mexico and Uruguay and backed by Bolivia and the Caribbean Community, among other countries, the Montevideo Mechanism is a four-step plan to diffuse the rising tensions between Venezuela's ruling socialist party and the U.S.-backed opposition, and promote a negotiated solution.

On Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on Mexico, Bolivia, Uruguay and the Caribbean countries "to resume the initiative for dialogue decided on in Montevideo two months ago."

Venezuela has been plunged into political tension since Jan. 23 when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the Latin American country's interim president and was recognized by the United States and some other countries.

Washington has stepped up the pressure on Maduro by backing Guaido, and piling on financial and economic sanctions against Venezuela and its state-owned oil company.

Competing rallies on Saturday saw tens of thousands of government supporters and opponents take to the streets in a show of strength for their respective camps.