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Deadly protests as Venezuela poll branded 'sham'

Tear gas and rubber bullets rain down as at least 10 die in protests over a vote that critics say could usher in a dictatorship.

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Blast injures Venezuela police officers
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Britain and the US have called Venezuela's landmark vote a "sham" as 10 people - including two teenagers - were killed聽during violent protests.

Many in the South American country say it is heading for dictatorship and boycotted Sunday's vote for an assembly that would give President Nicolas Maduro virtually unlimited powers.

Opponents reacted with anger and mockery after the National Electoral Council said more than eight million people had voted.

With many polling stations deserted, rivals estimated the actual number was about two to three million.

President Maduro, however, hailed the result as the "biggest ever vote for the revolution".

An armed member of the opposition blocks a road as Venezuelans go to the polls
Image: Tear gas and rubber bullets were fired

An election candidate and an opposition leader were among those killed and a number of police officers were injured after an explosion in the capital Caracas.

Venezuelan soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas at people blocking a highway and the national guard, equipped with shotguns, patrolled the main roads.

More on Venezuela

Sky News' Stuart Ramsay.

More than 120 people have been killed in four months of protests in Venezuela - which has seen living standards tumble in recent years despite its massive oil wealth.

Malnutrition has become a problem and people are struggling to get hold of basic products.

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Venezuela police open fire on Sky News crew

President Maduro faced no opposition in the elections and people fear he will use the new 545-member assembly to rewrite the constitution, sack officials and tighten his grip on power.

In a TV broadcast on Saturday he said the vote was "the election of a power that's above and beyond every other".

He also warned the opposition "already has its prison cell waiting".

Mr Maduro is widely blamed for overseeing the unravelling of the country's economy but has promised the assembly will being peace.

Venezuela protests
Image: Protesters say the President wants to create a dictatorship
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro
Image: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cast his vote in Caracas

America's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the election was a "step toward dictatorship" and that the US would not accept an illegitimate government.

"The Venezuelan people & democracy will prevail," she tweeted.

The US had also said it is considering oil-related sanctions against Venezuela, with measures announced "as early as Monday", according to officials.

Venezuela is the third-largest exporter of oil to the US, behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Many of the country's regional neighbours, such as Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay and Mexico, said they would not recognise the result.

President Maduro appears to have some support however - he said he had received message of congratulations from Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

Anti-government activists clash with security forces during a protest against the elections for a Constituent Assembly proposed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on July 30, 2017
Image: People wore gas masks and armed themselves with shields

Stephen Gibbs, a journalist who covers Latin America, told Sky News that Mr Maduro "seems to be on a path towards not really caring about appearing - to a certain extent - a pariah state".

"He still has a few leftist governments in this region like Cuba, Bolivia and to a certain extent Ecuador, who are with him. But the big players are going against him."