Chavez bloc begins work unopposed

Venezuela's national assembly is sitting for the first time since the opposition boycotted parliamentary elections in December.

All 167 seats are taken up by Bloc for Change politicians, who are loyal to the left-wing President, Hugo Chavez.

It is the first time in almost 50 years that Venezuela's national assembly has had no opposition members.

Critics say the new assembly is similar to the one in Cuba as it is unlikely to ask awkward questions of the president.

Lively debate

For the next five years Mr Chavez's legislators will be able to pass new laws quickly and without too much fuss in order to drive forward the revolution the president has advocated.

Critics say the assembly is likely to vote in favour of changing the constitution to allow Mr Chavez to stand in presidential elections as many times as he wishes.

But some of the newly-elected assembly members have told the BBC that this is not an issue for the immediate future.

They say they intend to generate lively debate inside the chamber in order to carry out much needed social reforms, such as the legalisation of gay marriages and the creation of a more flexible abortion law.