The United States has announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nicolás Maduro, coinciding with the day he was sworn in as president of Venezuela the BBC has reported.

Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro began a third term as president on Friday, cementing his increasingly authoritarian rule.

Nicolás Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his third six-year term in office would be a "period of peace".