Venezuelan President gets special powers

Venezuela's National Assembly has given final approval to special powers for President Nicolas Maduro.



Under the measures, Maduro will be able to govern without consulting Congress for 12 months.



After signing the bill, he promised to keep prices down and conduct a ground-shaking anti-corruption offensive.



The president says the aim of the new powers is to tackle the economic crisis.

However, critics fear he may use them against the opposition.



Venezuela is facing shortages of food and other essential goods, as well as power cuts and about 54 per cent inflation.



Maduro has already forced retailers to slash prices by up to 60 per cent, as part of his fight against what he calls economic sabotage.



The government has also imposed strict controls over the sale of foreign currency, to combat a growing black market of dollars.



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