Fistfights in Venezuelan Parliament - Tuesday April 30,2013

Fistfights broke out in Venezuela's parliament on Tuesday April 30,2013, injuring a number of legislators during an angry session linked to the South American nation's bitter election dispute.

The opposition said seven of its parliamentarians were attacked and hurt when protesting a measure to block them from speaking in the National Assembly over their refusal to recognize President Nicolas Maduro's April 14 vote victory.

Government legislators blamed their "fascist" rivals for starting the violence, which illustrated the volatile state of politics in the OPEC nation after the death of late leader Hugo Chavez last month