CARACAS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has announced that the controversial National Constituent Assembly (ANC) will take power at the Federal Legislative Palace here Friday.
"The constituent assembly has made preparations for its big day tomorrow to take power. I have been informed that all is perfectly prepared step by step," Maduro said in a television broadcast Thursday.
"The constituent assembly will be the body to discuss and decide legislative issues once it has been installed," added Maduro, calling for "peace, calmness, joy and serenity."
The ANC will be installed at the Federal Legislative Palace, which current occupant is the opposition-controlled National Assembly, who has refused to leave and urged supporters to protest by taking to the streets.
Supporters of the ruling United Socialist Party have also been mobilized to stand up for the ANC in street demonstrations on Friday.
The opposition activists blamed Maduro for his intention to consolidate his power through the ANC by re-writing the constitution.
The installation ceremony is scheduled at 11 a.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Friday.
