Oil-rich, cash-poor Venezuela in tense election

Venezuelans vote Sunday in tense elections that could see the opposition seize legislative power from the socialist government and which leaders fear may spark violence in the oil-rich, cash-poor nation.

With the country suffering from soaring inflation and poverty, a broad opposition coalition is vying to gain control of the National Assembly and force a change of course by anti-US leader Nicolas Maduro.

That could mark a potential political shift in the Latin American country of 30 million people, which has the world's biggest oil reserves but also widespread poverty.

Or it could lead to political deadlock and even a repeat of riots that killed 43 people last year, analysts and political leaders warn.

After 16 years of government by late president Hugo Chavez and his handpicked successor Maduro, the vote is widely seen as a referendum on their economic policies.

"We will win!" Maduro bellowed at a rally this week, dismissing his opponents as "lazy and inept."

He and Chavez invested the country's vast oil wealth in projects to build homes, roads and schools.

But since the mustachioed former bus driver was elected after Chavez's death in 2013, the revolution has faltered as oil prices have plunged.

Families are suffering shortages of basic supplies such as flour and diapers. Soaring inflation has slashed their spending power.