Venezuelan socialists fight election of opposition lawmakers

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are disputing the election of eight opposition candidates to the National Assembly, a move the opposition says seeks to undermine its landslide victory in legislative elections.

Many in the opposition are denouncing the move by the government-stacked court as a legal trick to rob the opposition of the full fruits of its victory and are calling on the international community to safeguard the Venezuelans' electoral wishes.

Last week, the lame-duck congress rammed through 13 Supreme Court appointments and set up in the legislature building a possibly parallel assembly comprised of grassroots activists.