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| Venezuela to open controversial constituent assembly | Venezuela to open controversial constituent assembly |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Venezuelan government is set to begin installing a controversial new constituent assembly, defying anger at home and strong criticism abroad. | The Venezuelan government is set to begin installing a controversial new constituent assembly, defying anger at home and strong criticism abroad. |
| President Nicolás Maduro says the new body, which has the power to rewrite the constitution, is needed to bring peace after months of crisis. | President Nicolás Maduro says the new body, which has the power to rewrite the constitution, is needed to bring peace after months of crisis. |
| But the opposition sees the assembly as a power grab and has called for mass protests against it. | But the opposition sees the assembly as a power grab and has called for mass protests against it. |
| The Pope has urged Catholic-majority Venezuela to suspend the new body. | The Pope has urged Catholic-majority Venezuela to suspend the new body. |
| The first session of the 545-member constituent assembly is set to begin later on Friday. Among those sitting will be Mr Maduro's wife and son. | The first session of the 545-member constituent assembly is set to begin later on Friday. Among those sitting will be Mr Maduro's wife and son. |
| Thousands of government supporters gathered in the capital Caracas to march with members of the new assembly as they prepared to take office. | |
| The body will sit in the same building as the opposition-controlled National Assembly and can override its decisions. | |
| The election for the new assembly was boycotted by the opposition and marred by violence and accusations of fraud. | The election for the new assembly was boycotted by the opposition and marred by violence and accusations of fraud. |
| Venezuela's attorney general has ordered an investigation after the firm that provided the voting system in the election alleged that turnout numbers had been inflated. | Venezuela's attorney general has ordered an investigation after the firm that provided the voting system in the election alleged that turnout numbers had been inflated. |
| President Maduro insists the poll was a "vote for the revolution", arguing that the move would create peace and foster dialogue by bringing together different sectors of Venezuela's polarised society. | President Maduro insists the poll was a "vote for the revolution", arguing that the move would create peace and foster dialogue by bringing together different sectors of Venezuela's polarised society. |
| But the Vatican on Friday urged the government to suspend the assembly, which it argued fomented "a climate of tension" rather than reconciliation and peace. | But the Vatican on Friday urged the government to suspend the assembly, which it argued fomented "a climate of tension" rather than reconciliation and peace. |
| The Vatican is only the latest voice to speak out: the US has imposed sanctions, with the Trump administration labelling Mr Maduro a "dictator". | The Vatican is only the latest voice to speak out: the US has imposed sanctions, with the Trump administration labelling Mr Maduro a "dictator". |
| The European Union and several major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. | The European Union and several major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. |
| Venezuela is caught in a political and economic crisis, and has seen waves of anti-government protests. | Venezuela is caught in a political and economic crisis, and has seen waves of anti-government protests. |
| Inflation is rampant and there have been severe shortages of food and medicine. | Inflation is rampant and there have been severe shortages of food and medicine. |
| However, President Maduro retains the support of key state institutions, most importantly the army. | However, President Maduro retains the support of key state institutions, most importantly the army. |