Venezuela’s opposition rejects poll outcome

Venezuelans have stayed away from the polls in huge numbers in a show of protest against a vote to grant Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party virtually unlimited powers in the face of a brutal socio-economic crisis and a grinding battle with its political opponents.

The opposition coalition said 88 per cent of voters abstained and it refused to recognise the election. It also called for more protests yesterday.

The government swore to continue its push for total political dominance of the once-prosperous OPEC nation, a move likely to trigger US sanctions and new rounds of the street fighting that has killed at least 122 and wounded nearly 2,000 since protests began in April. The US State Department said the vote was a step towards authoritarian rule.