Int’l alarm as Venezuela accused of ‘coup’

The head of the Organization of American States called yesterday for crisis talks on Venezuela following a move by its Supreme Court to seize legislative power from the opposition-controlled National Assembly, reports AFP.
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro asked the regional organization's permanent representatives to meet to make a "collective assessment" of the situation and decide what to do about it.
Besides, international powers voiced alarm on Thursday at the Venezuelan Supreme Court's move to seize power from the opposition-led legislature, in what was widely branded as amounting to a coup.
The court's move tightened socialist President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power after more than a year in which he was locked in a political struggle with the center-right opposition.
Critics said it was an authoritarian turn for the South American oil producing giant, where an economic crisis has caused
food shortages, riots and an epidemic of violent crime.
The crisis has raised concerns about stability in Venezuela, which has undergone three attempted military coups since 1992.
The US State Department called the court's move "a serious setback for democracy."
Regional powers Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile and others also warned it was a threat to democracy in Venezuela.

 

Intl alarm as Venezuela accused of coup

The head of the Organization of American States called yesterday for crisis talks on Venezuela following a move by its Supreme Court to seize legislative power from the opposition-controlled National Assembly, reports AFP. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro asked the regional organizations permanent representatives to meet to make a collective assessment of the situation and decide what to do about it. Besides, international powers voiced alarm on Thursday at the Venezuelan Supreme Courts move to seize power from the opposition-led legislature, in what was widely branded as amounting to a coup. The courts move tightened socialist President Nicolas Maduros grip on power after more than a year in which he was locked in a political struggle with the center-right opposition. Critics said it was an authoritarian turn for the South American oil producing giant, where an economic crisis has caused food shortages, riots and an epidemic of violent crime. The crisis has raised concerns about stability in Venezuela, which has undergone three attempted military coups since 1992. The US State Department called the courts move a serious setback for democracy. Regional powers Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile and others also warned it was a threat to democracy in Venezuela.