Opposition leaders in Venezuela have sharply criticised controversial new reforms to the Supreme Court. The new law, passed by parliament after a 16-hour session, increases the number of Supreme Court judges from 20 to 32. The opposition says the move will allow President Hugo Chavez to appoint more sympathetic judges and, in effect, dominate the judiciary. It comes as the Supreme Court is considering an opposition bid for a referendum on Mr Chavez's presidency. Critics of the reform include the governor of Miranda state, Enrique Mendoza, who called it "one more act of abuse that defines the totalitarian and centrist vision of this tin-hat dictatorship regime". |