Venezuela tense as defiant deputies take over assembly
Source: AFP
A tense struggle for control of Venezuela's legislature threatens to come to a head at a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday as opposition lawmakers defy government efforts to weaken their majority.
Opponents and loyalists alike of the country's Socialist leadership have called on their supporters to rally at the National Assembly as an opposition majority takes over for the first time in 17 years.
Facing the toughest challenge yet to his authority from the new assembly, President Nicolas Maduro moved to calm tensions late Monday by saying he had ordered the security forces to ensure the investiture goes ahead peacefully.
He said authorities and the opposition discussed safety measures so that demonstrators "can go out, sing their songs and chant their slogans with enough space so that access to the National Assembly is not obstructed."
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-president-orders-peaceful-handover-assembly-023314943.html
