Venezuela's new pro-government constitutional authority formally declared Friday it was seizing powers from the opposition-led legislature, tightening President Nicolas Maduro's hold on power in defiance of calls for elections.

In a session, the Constituent Assembly adopted a decree authorizing it to "take over functions to legislate on matters directly concerned with ensuring peace, security, sovereignty, the socio-economic and financial systems, state assets and upholding Venezuelans' rights."