Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro has ordered an investigation into Telefónica’s Movistar for alleged “coup-mongering” after a week of protests against his increasingly repressive rule. Mr Maduro accused the subsidiary of Spain’s Telefónica of supporting opposition rallies which have led to pitched battles in which nine people have been killed and scores detained. “I denounce the company Movistar of Venezuela. I have ordered an investigation because it joined the coup-mongering call against the country, and that is not its function,” he said, adding “every two hours the company Movistar sent millions of messages to its phone and internet customers” as part of a “cyber war”. Telefónica was unavailable for comment, but it is not the only company caught up in the strife in Venezuela. On Wednesday, General Motors said it ceased operations after one of its plants was seized by local authorities. The US-based company said the move will cause “irreparable damage to the company and its 2,678 workers”. Tensions continue to grow as Mr Maduro’s foes demand early elections to speed up his removal from office amid worsening shortages of basic goods, violent unrest and political repression. Opponents are vowing no let-up in the pressure as the socialist leader clings to power. “When one lives in a lawless country, one has to take to the street to protest for our dignity and rights,” said Julio Borges, a leading opposition lawmaker. Local media reported unrest in poor areas of the capital on Thursday night. Critics had called for protests across the country on Friday, a silent march in Caracas on Saturday of people dressed in white to commemorate those killed in the unrest, and a nationwide sit-in to block some of Venezuela’s main roads on Monday.