Protesters gather in Sydney, kicking off a global rally convened by Venezuela's opposition nearly three weeks after the elections in which President Nicolas Maduro was declared re-elected amid allegations of fraud. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has called for demonstrations in more than 300 cities in Venezuela and abroad in what she called a "protest for the truth." Protesters in Sydney tell AFP that for Venezuelans who fled overseas during Maduro or his predecessor Hugo Chavez's government, the election result has given them a "ray of hope" for the future of their country and of eventually returning home. "As you can see a lot of us have reunited and raised our voices, and I feel like the country is one now. We're one again," says 28-year-old protest organiser Kevin Lugo, who fled persecution in his home country nine years ago. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ++ COMPLETES WITH VIDI_36ED2YW ++