Opposition complains as Venezuela voting extended

Venezuelan authorities said they would keep voting stations open at least an hour longer than scheduled in Sunday's key legislative election, sparking cries of foul play by the opposition.

The government-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) said there were still people waiting in line to cast their ballots at the official closing time of 6:00 pm (2230 GMT).

"For this reason, the CNE has decided to extend the opening hours of polling stations until 7:00 pm or for as long as there are voters waiting in line," the deputy head of the council Sandra Oblitas told reporters.

The opposition, which is vying to win a majority in the state legislature after 16 years of control by the socialist leadership, denounced that move as illegal.

A representative of the broad opposition coalition MUD, former CNE official Vicente Diaz, told a news conference that keeping all the voting stations open was a "violation" of electoral law.

The opposition has accused President Nicolas Maduro of rigging voting districts and intimidating and repressing its members. Numerous opposition figures are in jail.

US and European authorities have condemned the jailing of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and called for a fair and open election.

Surveys by Venezuelan pollsters such as Datanalisis have shown the opposition is likely to win a majority in the legislative National Assembly for the first time since late socialist leader Hugo Chavez was first elected in 1999.

But analysts say they may struggle to counter Maduro's presidential powers.

Venezuela is in an economic crisis due to plunging oil revenues, with families suffering shortages of basic foods and supplies.