President Nicolas Maduro's Government says it is close to convening a special assembly endowed with powers to rewrite the constitution, override other branches of Government and punish Opposition leaders.
Two of his leading foes already were dragged from their homes by heavily armed security agents and thrown in a military prison yesterday, drawing condemnation from the United States and some latin American countries.
But many other nations and international organisations were silent or limited themselves to expressions of concern.
Opposition leader leopoldo lopez and Antonio ledezma were accused by the Government-allied Supreme Court of violating the terms of their house arrest by plotting to escape and releasing video statements criticising Maduro.
Both men's supporters denied the charges and vowed to continue to try to push the ruling socialist party from power.