Reuters: Called 'dictator,' Venezuela leader tries to defuse court protests
Seeking to cool protests and international outrage, socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday the Supreme Court would review its move to annul the opposition-led congress, which critics decried as a lurch toward dictatorship.
"This controversy is over ... the constitution has won," Maduro said in a televised speech just after midnight.
He was flanked by senior officials on a specially convened state security committee that ordered the top court to reconsider its rulings.
While Maduro, 54, sought to cast the move as the achievement of a statesman resolving a power conflict, his foes said it was a hypocritical row-back by an unpopular government that overplayed its hand.
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WNU Editor: The Venezuelan Supreme Court has reversed their order .... Venezuela court drops bid to strip congress of power (AFP). but this does not change anything .... the Supreme Court justices are appointees/allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro .... they tried and failed to get rid of the opposition in the Congress. As to the real reason on why they were forced to reverse their order .... it is because of this .... Venezuela bonds crash as political standoff escalates (Reuters). If no one wants to buy the government's bonds .... and who would want to in a dictatorship .... the government will then not be able to finance their operations. Unfortunately .... the damage has already been done. Venezuela is now entering a very dangerous phase.
More News On The Crisis In Venezuela
As Criticism Mounts, Venezuela Asks High Court to Revisit Power Grab -- NYT
Venezuelan court reverses move to strip National Assembly of power -- CNN
Venezuela: Supreme court backtracks on powers bid -- BBC
Venezuela's Descent Into Dictatorship -- New York Times editorial
