Venezuela seeks to annul vote to reinstate lawmakers

Caracas: Venezuela`s attorney general requested Saturday to nullify the National Assembly`s decision to reinstate three lawmakers accused of voting fraud.

The opposition-controlled National Assembly swore in three suspended lawmakers from the southern state Amazonas Thursday, which the attorney general`s office said "has generated an absolutely unconstitutional and unlawful situation that cannot be recognized or supported by agencies and entities of public administration." 

Venezuela`s highest court had suspended the three lawmakers in January after they were accused of buying votes in December`s legislative election.
The decision to reinstate the lawmakers comes as the Venezuelan government asked electoral authorities Tuesday to ban the opposition coalition seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro in a recall vote, accusing them of massive fraud.

A recent poll found 64 percent of Venezuelans would vote to remove Maduro, who has declared a state of emergency and given his military sweeping powers over food production and distribution.

Venezuela`s economic tailspin is threatening 17 years of socialist rule under Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

The opposition`s recall referendum push comes after it won legislative elections in December, only to find its power stymied by the Supreme Court.
Maduro`s opponents allege he controls both the high court and the electoral authority.