Venezuela's beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro on Monday called for a new constitution to be written by a "people's" body, circumventing the opposition-held Congress.
The decree was to "block the fascist coup" threatening the country, he told thousands of supporters in Caracas at a May Day rally.
The new constitution-writing entity would be "a citizen's constituent body, not from political parties – a people's constituent body," he said.
Only half of the 500-member assembly, or less, would be elected and political parties would not participate, Maduro said.
An opposition supporter is helped during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela on May 1, 2017. /VCG Photo
Opponents fear Maduro would stuff the assembly with supporters and manipulate the elected seats by giving extra weight to pro-government workers' groups. They said it was another attempt to sideline the current opposition-led National Assembly and keep Maduro in office amid a bruising recession and protests.
Maduro says the country is being roiled as part of a US-led capitalist plot. "I don't want a civil war," he told supporters in downtown Caracas, while elsewhere across the city security forces fired tear gas at youths hurling stones and petrol bombs after opposition marches were blocked.
Maduro's move mirrored that of his late predecessor Hugo Chavez, who in 1999 had a Constituent Assembly of various representatives draw up Venezuela's current constitution. The text was overwhelmingly passed by a referendum.
Venezuela is in the grip of more than a month of near-daily protests against Maduro marked by violence that has killed nearly 30 people. The unrest is fueled by an economic collapse in the oil-producing nation that has caused shortages of food and medicine.
Demonstrators clash with a riot police armored car during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela on May 1, 2017. /VCG Photo
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press conference on April 21 that China believes the Venezuelan people can protect their country's stability and economic development.
"As a friend of Venezuela, China sincerely hopes and believes that the Venezuelan people can properly handle their domestic affairs," he said.
China is aware the Venezuelan government hopes to resume talks with the opposition, Lu added.
(Source: AFP, Reuters, Xinhua)
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