Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters in Caracas on Sunday after returning from nearly a year in exile.

Her supporters stood along highways, toll plazas and city streets waving Venezuelan flags and chanting slogans like "freedom" as Machado made her way in a convoy of cars and motorcycles to the capital, Caracas.

Wearing her trademark white T-shirt and blue jeans, she leaned out of the sunroof and shouted "this country is giving lessons to everyone" as her convoy entered the capital.

Maria Corina Machado was see singing the national anthem at a church after returning to the country Image: Vente Venezuela Press/REUTERS

In Guacara earlier, the AFP news agency reported seeing Machado singing the national anthem in a plaza packed with supporters, waving flags and cheering her return.

Why was Machado in exile?

Machado left Venezuela last December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting democracy in autocratic Venezuela.

Facing…