Venezuelan Lawmakers Brawl After Opposition Unfurls Banner

HT: USA Today

The Venezuelan Parliament erupted with violence between pro-government, and opposition lawmakers last night when opposition members, who have been banned from serving on parliament committees and public speaking until they recognize Maduro as the winner of last month's disputed presidential election, unfurled a banner stating "coup against the parliament."

Tensions have remained high since April's disputed election that officially Nicolas Maduro, Hugo Chavez's hand picked successor, won over opposition leader Henrique Capriles by an insanely narrow 1.5% margin that opponents have blamed on voter fraud, which government officials have dismissed wholeheartedly.

And amid aforementioned tensions, mostly political mixed in with some street violence between police and opposition demonstrators, Maduro's supporters have labeled all attempts to question his election as a coup and have gone to great lengths to silence their fellow lawmakers for refusing to recognize his questionable victory.

Thus the sparking point for the unfurling of the banner last night, that according to opposition lawmakers, led government supporters to lash out at them from behind and turn the Venezuelan legislative body into a brawl scene and further worsening political tensions in this already declining state of government affairs.

What say you?