Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has slammed sanctions imposed by the US government against the South American country for holding a controversial constitutional assembly election amid violent protests.

"You're with Trump or you're with Venezuela, you're with Trump or you're with the democracy, you're with Trump or you're with the free people of the world, that's the decision, you're with Trump or you're with the free world," Maduro said on Monday in a televised speech.

"They are the decisions that express their impotence, their despair, their hatred. They express the character of the magnate, who is emperor of the US."

Maduro also responded to Washington's threat to suspend the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a body that the President created to rewrite the nation's constitution, saying: "I do not obey imperial orders of foreign governments".

"Trump is more disowned in the US and in the world than (former US President) George W. Bush," who declared himself 'anti-colonialist, anti-racist' and against the Ku Klux Klan that rules the White House," the Venezuelan leader said.

US National Security Adviser Herbert R. McMaster on Monday announced direct sanctions by the US government, including freezing Maduro's assets in Washington and prohibiting American citizens from carrying out economic transactions with the Venezuelan leader.

"Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator," said McMaster, adding that Maduro has joined "a very exclusive club", that includes Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who have all been sanctioned by Washington.

The US imposed sanctions in response to the July 30 elections of representatives of the Constituent Assembly that Maduro planned to use to draft a new national charter.

However, the opposition and other social societies criticized the move as a way for Maduro to consolidate a dictatorship in the country.

The US along with other South American nations and the European Union (EU) have said they will not recognise the assembly established from the vote.

The Venezuelan Attorney General said rge July 30 protests against the elections left a total of 10 persons dead, however the opposition alliance Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) said the toll was 14.

The latest victims bring the total death toll from the wave of anti-government protests that began on April 1 to 121 with over thousands others injured.

The government said more than 8 million Venezuelans voted in the July 30 elections. The MUD refused to participate as it considered the vote "fraudulent".</s>US hits Venezuelan 'dictator' Nicolas Maduro with sanctions after 'sham election'

The White House says Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is now effectively a dictator after "seizing absolute power" through what Washington said was a "sham election" of the country's National Constituent Assembly.

"Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator," national security adviser HR McMaster said.

"Recent actions culminating in yesterday's seizure of absolute power through the sham election of the National Constituent Assembly represent a very serious blow to democracy in our hemisphere."

The Trump administration announced financial sanctions would be imposed on Mr Maduro.

The sanctions freeze any assets Mr Maduro may have in US jurisdictions and bar Americans from doing business with him.

The monetary impact of the sanctions was not immediately clear as Mr Maduro's holdings in US jurisdictions, if he has any, were not publicised.

However, imposing sanctions on a head of state is rare and can be symbolically powerful, leading other countries to similarly shun such a leader.

Monday's move follows through on a US threat of action last week against Mr Maduro and his socialist Government if they went ahead with Sunday's election.

Mr Mnuchin warned of further US penalties against Maduro allies.

"Anyone who participates in this illegitimate [constituent assembly] could be exposed to future US sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela," he said.

Officials had said the sanctions could target Venezuela's oil sector, including possibly its state-owned petroleum company.

But after the announcement, an official said Mr Trump's administration held off on sector sanctions due to possible complications, including some involving subsidiaries.

The assembly will draw up a new constitution that many believe is aimed only at securing Mr Maduro's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Anti-government demonstrators barricaded streets on Monday and promised a fresh wave of protests.

The Government said the election had given it a popular mandate to dramatically recast the political system, despite widespread claims of low voter turnout.

"The people have delivered the constitutional assembly," Mr Maduro said on national television.

"More than 8 million in the middle of threats … it's when imperialism challenges us that we prove ourselves worthy of the blood of the liberators that runs through the veins of men, women, children and young people."</s>CARACAS: The United States hit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with direct sanctions on Monday (Jul 31) over a disputed and deadly weekend vote that, while consolidating his power, has largely isolated him at home and abroad as the "dictator" of a failing petro-state.

The US measures were unusual in that they targeted a sitting head of state, but their reach was mostly symbolic, freezing any US assets Maduro might have and banning people under US jurisdiction from dealing with him.

"Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Mexico, Colombia, Peru and other nations joined the US in saying they did not recognise the results of Sunday's election, which appointed a new "Constituent Assembly" superseding Venezuela's legislative body, the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Maduro's own attorney general, Luisa Ortega - who broke with him months ago over his policies - also said she would not acknowledge the body, calling it part of the president's "dictatorial ambition" to do away with political and civil rights.

The European Union expressed "preoccupation for the fate of democracy in Venezuela" and said it, too, doubted it could accept the results.

However, Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia stood by Maduro, who shrugged off mass protests and a previous round of US sanctions on some of his officials to see through the election.



The National Electoral Council claimed more than 40 per cent of Venezuela's 20 million voters had cast ballots Sunday.



"It is the biggest vote the revolution has ever scored in its 18-year history," Maduro said, dressed in the red associated with the socialist revolution started by his late mentor, Hugo Chavez.

But the leader of the opposition congress, Julio Borges, said Venezuela has found itself "more divided and isolated in the world."

According to the opposition, voter turnout was closer to 12 per cent, a figure more aligned with the lack of lines that were seen at many polling stations.

Surveys by polling firm Datanalisis showed more than 70 per cent of Venezuelans were opposed the new assembly.

Further protests were called for Monday and beyond, stoking fears that the death toll in four months of protests against Maduro could rise beyond the more than 120 already recorded.

"I feel awful, frustrated with this fraud," said one Caracas resident, Giancarlo Fernandez, 35.

Demonstrators were ignoring a ban on protests put in place by Maduro that threatened up to 10 years in prison for violators.

Ten people died in violence surrounding Sunday's election, which saw security forces firing tear gas and, in some cases, live ammunition to put down protests. Among those killed were two teens and a Venezuelan soldier.

Uncontested by the opposition, and voted for by state employees fearful for their jobs, the Constituent Assembly was made up solely of members of Maduro's ruling Socialist Party.

Tasked with writing a new constitution, it has far-reaching powers - including the right to dissolve the National Assembly and change laws. It is due to be installed on Wednesday. Its members include Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores.

The European Union condemned the "excessive and disproportionate use of force" by Venezuelan police and troops on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission said: "A Constituent Assembly, elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances, cannot be part of the solution."

Russia, however, threw its weight behind Maduro and the election, backing the government turnout figure.

The foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement it hopes countries "who apparently want to increase economic pressure on Caracas will display restraint and abandon their destructive plans."

Bolivia echoed that, urging the world "to respect the democratic process that took place in Venezuela."

Yet analysts were in agreement that Maduro's move had swept away any vestige of democracy in Venezuela.

"Maduro's blatant power grab removes any ambiguity about whether Venezuela is a democracy," said Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue research centre.

Eduardo Rios Ludena, a Venezuela specialist at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, said Maduro had "sacrificed democracy" by exaggerating the number of voters.

"In the short term, the Constituent Assembly gives a bit of breathing space to the government," he conceded, but added that grave economic consequences would follow.

Venezuela's 30 million citizens are suffering through shortages of basic goods. Sanctions against the all-important oil sector would worsen their situation, but could also destabilise the government, which is frenziedly printing money and running out of foreign currency reserves.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is preparing to levy new sanctions on Venezuela, U.S. officials said Monday, in response to a weekend election that gives the South American country’s ruling party virtually unlimited powers.

The officials said the new sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday and will likely target Venezuela’s oil sector, including possibly its state-owned petroleum company. One official said an announcement was imminent. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The administration imposed sanctions on more than a dozen senior current and former Venezuelan officials last week, warning the socialist government that new penalties would come if President Nicolas Maduro went ahead with Sunday’s election for a constituent assembly.

The assembly will draw up a new constitution that many believe is aimed only at securing Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian rule. On Monday, Venezuela’s government said the election had given it a popular mandate to dramatically recast the political system, despite widespread claims of low voter turnout.

The Trump administration was quick to denounce the vote.

“Maduro’s sham election is another step toward dictatorship,” Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said on Twitter. “We won’t accept an illegit govt. The Venezuelan ppl & democracy will prevail.”

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the new assembly “is designed to replace the legitimately elected National Assembly and undermine the Venezuelan people’s right to self-determination.”

“The United States stands by the people of Venezuela, and their constitutional representatives, in their quest to restore their country to a full and prosperous democracy,” Nauert said in a statement. “We will continue to take strong and swift actions against the architects of authoritarianism in Venezuela, including those who participate in the National Constituent Assembly as a result of (Sunday’s) flawed election.”

Venezuelan electoral authorities said more than 8 million people voted to create the constitutional assembly endowing Maduro’s ruling party with virtually unlimited powers. Independent analysts, though, estimated the real turnout was less than half that figure.

Five days ago, the Treasury Department targeted four senior Venezuelan officials that the U.S. said were promoting that election or undermining democracy in Venezuela. Five others were hit with sanctions after the department accused them of involvement in violence or repression amid the country’s political crisis. Four more Venezuelans linked to Venezuela’s state oil company or other government-run institutions were also penalized.

At the time, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin indicated more penalties could be coming unless Maduro’s government did not call off the election.</s>Just one day after a nationwide vote to consolidate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power, the U.S. Treasury Department has leveled a new round of sanctions against the regime — this time against Maduro himself.

"All assets of Nicolas Maduro subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen," the department announced in a statement Monday, "and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with him."

The move, which marks only the fourth time the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on a sitting head of state, follows a referendum called by Maduro to elect the delegates tasked with rewriting Venezuela's constitution. The constituent assembly elected in Sunday's vote will have the power to dissolve the National Assembly, which is dominated by opposition politicians.

"The way that the election was set up ensured that this would be a body that is packed with supporters of Maduro and the ruling Socialist Party," NPR's Philip Reeves explained on Morning Edition.

Maduro's "recent actions, culminating in yesterday's outrageous seizure of absolute power through the sham election of the national constituent assembly, represent a very serious blow to democracy in our hemisphere," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said at a White House briefing Monday. "Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator."

Venezuela has been riven by unrest since the country's Supreme Court, which is packed with Maduro supporters, attempted to dissolve the legislature in late March — and quickly reversed itself just days later after international backlash. In the months that followed, more than 120 people have died in clashes between Maduro's security forces and protesters, who have demanded the resumption of indefinitely delayed elections.

At least 10 people were killed around the country on Sunday alone.

Monday's sanctions are not the first leveled by the U.S. against Maduro's government. Last week, the U.S. targeted 13 current or former officials — but Maduro remained defiant, publicly honoring each of the officials slapped with what he called the "imperialist sanctions."

At the briefing Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would not comment on whether Maduro has any assets in the U.S. Still, he did note that "all options are on the table" going forward.

"Our objective is not to do anything that hurts the people of Venezuela," he said, "but let me just say, we will continue to monitor all of our specific options."</s>Venezuela planned a vote Sunday to elect a controversial new legislative body whose creation has triggered international alarm and deadly street protests against the nation's beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro, who is struggling to shore up his regime, predicted a "big victory" in the election of the 545-member citizens' Constituent Assembly empowered to dissolve the opposition-controlled parliament and rewrite the constitution.

But the opposition has urged a boycott, saying the vote was a move towards "dictatorship" by an unpopular president desperate to cling to power with the backing of a loyal military.

The US, the EU and Latin American powers, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, have come out against the election, saying it would destroy Venezuelan democracy.

Surveys by the Datanalisis polling firm show more than 70 percent of Venezuelans opposed the idea of the new assembly -- and 80 percent reject Maduro's leadership.

Four months of street protests against Maduro have left more than 100 people dead, and exposed deep political divisions in this oil-rich nation reduced to economic calamity.

Demonstrations tapered off just before Sunday's vote after Maduro decreed a ban threatening prison terms of up to 10 years for protesters.

But fear of the violence worsening has rippled across the region, and beyond.

Several foreign airlines, including Air France, Delta, Avianca and Iberia have suspended flights to the country.

Families of US diplomats there have been ordered to leave following the imposition of American sanctions on 13 current and former Venezuelan officials.

Maduro -- who described the Constituent Assembly as a "card that will win this game" -- on Saturday said the vote was "the most important election held in Venezuela's political system."

>> Read more: Venezuela’s top prosecutor becomes Maduro’s most feared opponent

Authorities on the eve of the vote said all was ready for the nationwide balloting, although the head of the electoral council acknowledged some voting machines had been burned in attacks on polling stations.

Freddy Guevara, an opposition lawmaker, said further demonstrations would take place on Sunday.

"There will not be calm as long as the people don't have peace," he said.

Colombia and Panama -- refuges for tens of thousands of Venezuelans fleeing the chaos at home -- have said they will not recognize the results of Sunday's election in Venezuela.

At an overnight protest in Villa del Rosario, a Colombian town on the Venezuelan border, hundreds of Venezuelans taking shelter there decried the election.

"We don't know what's going to happen in this situation created by this president," said one of them, Bella Buitrago, 48. "We're all extremely nervous."

"We don't want Mr. Maduro... he should leave the country," said another, Sindry Borges.

Some in Maduro's administration have broken ranks with him, most prominently his attorney general. Two diplomats resigned this week in dissent: one at the United Nations and another at the embassy in Panama.

The Venezuelan leader has blamed the mounting unrest against him and his policies on the United States, working hand-in-hand with the Venezuelan opposition to wage an "economic war."</s>Just one day after a nationwide vote to consolidate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power, the U.S. Treasury Department has leveled a new round of sanctions against the regime — this time against Maduro himself.

"All assets of Nicolas Maduro subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen," the department announced in a statement Monday, "and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with him."

The move, which marks only the fourth time the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on a sitting head of state, follows a referendum called by Maduro to elect the delegates tasked with rewriting Venezuela's constitution. The constituent assembly elected in Sunday's vote will have the power to dissolve the National Assembly, which is dominated by opposition politicians.

"The way that the election was set up ensured that this would be a body that is packed with supporters of Maduro and the ruling Socialist Party," NPR's Philip Reeves explained on Morning Edition.

Maduro's "recent actions, culminating in yesterday's outrageous seizure of absolute power through the sham election of the national constituent assembly, represent a very serious blow to democracy in our hemisphere," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said at a White House briefing Monday. "Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator."

Venezuela has been riven by unrest since the country's Supreme Court, which is packed with Maduro supporters, attempted to dissolve the legislature in late March — and quickly reversed itself just days later after international backlash. In the months that followed, more than 120 people have died in clashes between Maduro's security forces and protesters, who have demanded the resumption of indefinitely delayed elections.

At least 10 people were killed around the country on Sunday alone.

Monday's sanctions are not the first leveled by the U.S. against Maduro's government. Last week, the U.S. targeted 13 current or former officials — but Maduro remained defiant, publicly honoring each of the officials slapped with what he called the "imperialist sanctions."

At the briefing Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would not comment on whether Maduro has any assets in the U.S. Still, he did note that "all options are on the table" going forward.

"Our objective is not to do anything that hurts the people of Venezuela," he said, "but let me just say, we will continue to monitor all of our specific options."</s>Just one day after a nationwide vote to consolidate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power, the U.S. Treasury Department has leveled a new round of sanctions against the regime — this time against Maduro himself.

"All assets of Nicolas Maduro subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen," the department announced in a statement Monday, "and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with him."

The move, which marks only the fourth time the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on a sitting head of state, follows a referendum called by Maduro to elect the delegates tasked with rewriting Venezuela's constitution. The constituent assembly elected in Sunday's vote will have the power to dissolve the National Assembly, which is dominated by opposition politicians.

"The way that the election was set up ensured that this would be a body that is packed with supporters of Maduro and the ruling Socialist Party," NPR's Philip Reeves explained on Morning Edition.

Maduro's "recent actions, culminating in yesterday's outrageous seizure of absolute power through the sham election of the national constituent assembly, represent a very serious blow to democracy in our hemisphere," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said at a White House briefing Monday. "Maduro is not just a bad leader. He is now a dictator."

Venezuela has been riven by unrest since the country's Supreme Court, which is packed with Maduro supporters, attempted to dissolve the legislature in late March — and quickly reversed itself just days later after international backlash. In the months that followed, more than 120 people have died in clashes between Maduro's security forces and protesters, who have demanded the resumption of indefinitely delayed elections.

At least 10 people were killed around the country on Sunday alone.

Monday's sanctions are not the first leveled by the U.S. against Maduro's government. Last week, the U.S. targeted 13 current or former officials — but Maduro remained defiant, publicly honoring each of the officials slapped with what he called the "imperialist sanctions."

At the briefing Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would not comment on whether Maduro has any assets in the U.S. Still, he did note that "all options are on the table" going forward.

"Our objective is not to do anything that hurts the people of Venezuela," he said, "but let me just say, we will continue to monitor all of our specific options."</s>The Trump administration has placed personal sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in response to Sunday’s fraudulent election designed to further his grip on power.

On Monday, the Trump administration froze assets, banned travel, and prohibited Americans from dealing with Maduro himself in response to Sunday’s vote, in which an estimated 15 percent of the electorate participated according to opposition estimates.

Maduro is now the most senior Venezuelan official to be sanctioned after similar measures were taken against 13 senior Venezuelan officials on grounds of human rights abuses, corruption, and undermining democracy.

The Venezuelan government staged a vote Sunday to elect members of the “national constituents’ assembly,” an unconstitutional entity that Maduro has fabricated to replace the democratically-elected, opposition held National Assembly. The election featured exclusively socialist candidates and attracted global condemnation.

Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin announced the sanctions on Maduro during the White House daily press briefing Monday. In response to a question from Breitbart News, Mnuchin said the government would “consider” sanctions on the Venezuelan military and military-linked officials like Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and National Assembly minority leader Diosdado Cabello. The Venezuelan military remains key a apparatus for keeping Maduro in power, as the socialist regime regularly uses the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) to attack unarmed protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets. In multiple incidents, GNB soldiers have run over protesters with armored tanks. Maduro has also previously indicated his regime would use arms to defend late leader Hugo Chávez’s “Bolivarian revolution.”

Mnuchin also said the administration would consider sanctions that target the Venezuelan oil industry. The oil industry in Venezuela represents 95 percent of the country’s exports, with the United States accounting for over a half of that figure. As Venezuela’s crude oil is very heavy, the nation relies on the United States and other nations to refine the oil and sell it back to them as gasoline.

In a statement read out at Monday’s press briefing, National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster reaffirmed American support for the Venezuelan people:

Since President Trump’s inauguration, the Trump administration has called on Venezuela’s Maduro regime to respect the country’s constitution, to respect the role and authorities of the constitutionally established national assembly, hold free and fair elections, address the humanitarian needs of the Venezuelan people, and stop oppressing its great people,” he said. “The regime has refused to heed this call, and his recent actions, culminating in absolute power through the sham election of the national constituent assembly, represents a very serious blow to democracy in our hemisphere. Maduro is not just a bad leader, he is now a dictator.

Following an unofficial referendum earlier this month in which 98 percent of 7 million participants voted against the creation of constituent assembly, Trump himself warned that the United States would “not stand by as Venezuela crumbles” and would impose “strong and swift economic actions” should Maduro push ahead with the power grab.

The country is currently experiencing the worst political and humanitarian crisis in its history. Amid skyrocketing inflation, most Venezuelans can no longer afford basic resources such as water, medicine, and sanitary products. Meanwhile, 125 people have died as a result of anti-government protests that have taken place since March.

You can follow Ben Kew on Facebook, on Twitter at @ben_kew, or email him at bkew@breitbart.com</s>Washington: The United States hit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with direct sanctions on Monday over a disputed and deadly weekend vote that, while consolidating his power, has largely isolated him as the "dictator" of a failing petro-state.

The US measures were unusual in that they targeted a sitting head of state, but their reach was mostly symbolic, freezing any US assets Maduro might have and banning people under US jurisdiction from dealing with him.

"Yesterday`s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters.

Maduro lashed out at the move, saying it smacked of American "imperialism."

"I will not obey imperial orders. I do not obey foreign governments. I`m a free president," he said.

Colombia, Mexico, Peru and other nations joined the US in saying they did not recognize the results of Sunday`s election, which appointed a new "Constituent Assembly" superseding Venezuela`s legislative body, the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Maduro`s own attorney general, Luisa Ortega -- who broke with him months ago over his policies -- also said she would not acknowledge the body, calling it part of the president`s "dictatorial ambition."

The European Union expressed "preoccupation for the fate of democracy in Venezuela" and said it, too, doubted it could accept the results.

And Britain`s Foreign Minister Boris Johnson warned that Venezuela "stands on the brink of disaster."

"Nicolas Maduro`s government must stop before it is too late," he said.

However, old allies Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia stood by Maduro, who shrugged off mass protests and a previous round of US sanctions on some of his officials to see through the election.

Cuba, Venezuela`s closest ally, charged that "a well-organized international operation was under way, led from Washington, with the support of the OAS chief, aimed at silencing the voice of the Venezuelan people, and forcing them into submission with attacks and economic sanctions." The National Electoral Council claimed more than 40 percent of Venezuela`s 20 million voters had cast ballots Sunday.

According to the opposition, voter turnout was closer to 12 percent, a figure more aligned with the lack of lines at many polling stations.

Surveys by polling firm Datanalisis showed more than 70 percent of Venezuelans opposed the new assembly.

Further protests were called for Monday and beyond, stoking fears that the death toll of 120 people killed in four months of protests against Maduro could rise further.

"I feel awful, frustrated with this fraud," said Caracas resident Giancarlo Fernandez, 35.

Demonstrators defied a ban on protests set by Maduro that threatened up to 10 years in prison for violators.

Ten people died in violence surrounding Sunday`s election, which saw security forces fire tear gas and, in some cases, live ammunition to put down protests. Among those killed were two teens and a Venezuelan soldier.

Boycotted by the opposition, and voted for largely by state employees fearful for their jobs, the Constituent Assembly was made up solely of members of Maduro`s ruling Socialist Party.

Tasked with writing a new constitution, it has far-reaching powers -- including the right to dissolve the National Assembly and change laws.

It is due to be installed on Wednesday.The European Union condemned the "excessive and disproportionate use of force" by Venezuelan police and troops on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission said: "A Constituent Assembly, elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances, cannot be part of the solution."

Russia, however, threw its weight behind Maduro and the election, backing the government turnout figure.

The foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement it hopes countries "who apparently want to increase economic pressure on Caracas will display restraint and abandon their destructive plans."

Yet analysts agreed that Maduro`s move had swept away any vestige of democracy in Venezuela.

"Maduro`s blatant power grab removes any ambiguity about whether Venezuela is a democracy," said Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue research center.

Eduardo Rios Ludena, a Venezuela specialist at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, said Maduro had "sacrificed democracy."

"In the short term, the Constituent Assembly gives a bit of breathing space to the government," he conceded, though adding that grave economic consequences would follow.

Venezuela`s 30 million citizens are suffering through shortages of basic goods.

Sanctions against the all-important oil sector would worsen their situation, but could also destabilize the government, which is frenziedly printing money and running out of foreign currency reserves.
The United States sanctions Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the controversial Constitutional Assembly election which critics say is an attempt to establish a dictatorship.