Both the EU and the OAS said there was widespread voter distrust

EU observers said the poll, which was boycotted by the main opposition parties, was fair and transparent.

However, the Organisation of American States voiced some reservations over the handling of the election.

Supporters of President Hugo Chavez have won all 167 seats in parliament. They previously held 89.

Mr Chavez needs a two-thirds majority in congress to remove the current constitutional limit of two presidential terms in office.

Only about 25% of registered voters cast a ballot on Sunday, less than half of that at the last election in 2000.

Five main opposition parties boycotted the poll accusing the electoral body of bias. They say now that the low turnout deprives the vote of legitimacy.

At least one of the parties has said it is considering going to court to annul the vote and call for a new election.

The government has defended the fairness of the process.

Concerns

In its report, the EU praised the electoral board for their handling of the vote.

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However, among its reservations, the OAS highlighted the decision to keep some voting polls open past the designated hours and concern over the possibility that in some cases public workers had been pressured to vote.

Both agree that there is widespread voter distrust in the country's electoral system and called on the authorities to make the necessary changes to restore voter confidence.

Earlier this week, the US called for electoral reform in Venezuela.

Venezuelans showed a "broad lack of confidence in the impartiality and transparency" of the process, the state department said in Washington.