With the 60% required vote, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed an Enabling Law granting President Nicolas Maduro executive powers to defend the country's sovereignty against US destabilization efforts and possible military aggression. The law will be put to a second round of discussion before its final approval. Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa announced that a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) is being prepared to address the Venezuelan situation. teleSUR
