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| Disputed Venezuela assembly takes parliament's powers | Disputed Venezuela assembly takes parliament's powers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Venezuela's controversial new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favour of assuming the powers of the opposition-led parliament. | Venezuela's controversial new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favour of assuming the powers of the opposition-led parliament. |
| The move has been rejected by parliament, which said Venezuelans and the international community would not recognise the new powers. | The move has been rejected by parliament, which said Venezuelans and the international community would not recognise the new powers. |
| President Nicolas Maduro says the new assembly will end the deadly political unrest in the country. | President Nicolas Maduro says the new assembly will end the deadly political unrest in the country. |
| But many have called it a slide towards dictatorship. | But many have called it a slide towards dictatorship. |
| The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an "illegitimate dissolution" of the elected parliament. | The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an "illegitimate dissolution" of the elected parliament. |
| Regional economic bloc Mercosur - which includes the region's two biggest economies Brazil and Argentina - also condemned the move and said it would not recognise the new assembly's actions. | |
| Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely earlier this month, urging Mr Maduro to release prisoners and begin a political transition. | |
| Meanwhile the heads of the parliament and the new assembly have been trading insults on social media. | Meanwhile the heads of the parliament and the new assembly have been trading insults on social media. |
| Parliament head Julio Borges accused the new assembly of a "coup" while new assembly head Delcy Rodriguez - a close ally of Mr Maduro - denounced his "lies". | Parliament head Julio Borges accused the new assembly of a "coup" while new assembly head Delcy Rodriguez - a close ally of Mr Maduro - denounced his "lies". |
| Mr Maduro's wife and son are among the 545 members of the new assembly, which was set up following a controversial election earlier this month. | Mr Maduro's wife and son are among the 545 members of the new assembly, which was set up following a controversial election earlier this month. |
| More than 120 people have been killed in violent protests since April. | More than 120 people have been killed in violent protests since April. |
| The president's opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming his left-wing administration for food shortages and soaring inflation in the oil-rich country. | The president's opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming his left-wing administration for food shortages and soaring inflation in the oil-rich country. |
| What is the new body - and why is it so controversial? | What is the new body - and why is it so controversial? |
| Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run. | Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run. |
| Venezuela seen waves of violent protests, and Mr Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting "reconciliation and peace". | Venezuela seen waves of violent protests, and Mr Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting "reconciliation and peace". |
| An ally of Mr Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, is president of the new body | An ally of Mr Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, is president of the new body |
| How widely is it supported? | How widely is it supported? |
| The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud. | The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud. |
| Venezuela's electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated. | Venezuela's electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated. |
| The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly. | The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly. |
| How does the international community see it? | How does the international community see it? |
| The US has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a "dictator". | The US has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a "dictator". |
| The European Union and major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. | The European Union and major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. |
| Mr Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas. | Mr Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas. |