Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has offered to hold a referendum on contested constitutional reforms in an apparent bid to calm critics in his own camp as he resists opposition efforts to remove him from office.

The surprise announcement late Thursday came after two months of unrest during anti-government protests and signs of division in the leader's party.

On Friday, student protesters entered the headquarters of television channel VTV, where they levelled accusations against Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas.

An opposition supporter wears a helmet that reads "No more deaths" while rallying against President Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, June 2, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

The opposition says his constitutional reform plan is a bid to cling to power and key allies such as Attorney General Luisa Ortega have broken ranks with him, arguing it is undemocratic.

"In light of what is happening in this country, I would like to push back this Constituent Assembly, ask the National Electoral Council to advance regional elections and continue to press for dialogue," Ortega told Union Radio.

Maduro's announcement at a cabinet meeting came just hours after Ortega filed a legal challenge against the plan. The president called opponents of the move "traitors".

Maduro aims to set up an elected constitutional reform body called a constituent assembly. His opponents say he will fill it with his allies. 

Elected in 2013, Maduro is resisting opposition calls for early elections to remove him. 

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate in a rally in Caracas, on June 2, 2017. /VCG Photo

The opposition blames him for severe food and medicine shortages in the oil-rich nation. He says the crisis is a US-backed conspiracy. 

State prosecutors say 63 people have been killed in two months of unrest, which have seen protesters clash daily with riot police. 

(Source: AFP)