MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez allies say victorious in Congress vote

Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez claimed victory in all 167 seats at stake in Venezuela's congressional elections Sunday.

Chavez's party said it won 114 seats in the 167-seat National Assembly, the local media reported. Party officials said allies of Chavez won the remaining seats.

All five main opposition parties boycotted the election, accusing electoral authorities of bias. Only 25 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

Chavez condemned the boycott as a U.S.-backed plot to destabilize his regime -- a charge the United States denied.

A two-thirds majority in parliament will allow Chavez to remove the country's constitutional limit of two presidential terms in office. Chavez opponents say the low turnout shows the election was not legitimate.

"Venezuela is speaking with its silence," said prominent opposition leader Julio Borges.

The government deployed thousands of soldiers to maintain order during the vote.

Three small explosive devices were detonated at a government office and an army base in Caracas Friday. No one claimed responsibility for the incidents but the government described it as an attempt to "disturb" the voting process