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Nicolas Maduro sworn in as new Venezuelan president | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuelan president, succeeding the late Hugo Chavez who died of cancer in March after ruling for 14 years. | |
Thousands gathered on the streets of Caracas to show their support for Mr Maduro and to celebrate independence. | |
The ceremony follows a decision by the electoral body to carry out a full audit on all of the votes cast in Sunday's disputed presidential poll. | |
Mr Maduro beat opposition leader Henrique Capriles by 1.5% of the vote. | Mr Maduro beat opposition leader Henrique Capriles by 1.5% of the vote. |
Mr Capriles, who believed there were voting irregularities, says he accepts the electoral audit. | Mr Capriles, who believed there were voting irregularities, says he accepts the electoral audit. |
Opposition supporters were expected to protest against Mr Maduro's inauguration by banging on pots and pans, and playing salsa music. | |
Dozens of leaders from across the region (including Brazil, Cuba and Colombia), Iran and some Arab countries attended the ceremony. | |
'Slim majority' | |
Mr Capriles made an appeal for peaceful protests in a bid to avoid further violence after clashes left seven people dead on Monday. | |
The National Electoral Council's decision to audit all the paper receipts of electronic votes is seen as a major concession to the opposition. | The National Electoral Council's decision to audit all the paper receipts of electronic votes is seen as a major concession to the opposition. |
The council had earlier audited 54% of the vote and said this showed that Mr Maduro, the chosen successor of the late President Hugo Chavez, had won a slim majority. | The council had earlier audited 54% of the vote and said this showed that Mr Maduro, the chosen successor of the late President Hugo Chavez, had won a slim majority. |
The official count indicates Mr Maduro won 50.8% of votes to Mr Capriles's 49.0%. | The official count indicates Mr Maduro won 50.8% of votes to Mr Capriles's 49.0%. |
Mr Capriles said he believed the crucial votes that cost him the presidency are among the unaudited 46% of the vote. | Mr Capriles said he believed the crucial votes that cost him the presidency are among the unaudited 46% of the vote. |
He said there were more than 3,000 incidents from Sunday's poll that needed to be examined. | He said there were more than 3,000 incidents from Sunday's poll that needed to be examined. |
Correspondents say the announcement comes as a surprise to many after the electoral body initially said the the results, which it announced on Sunday night, were "irreversible". | Correspondents say the announcement comes as a surprise to many after the electoral body initially said the the results, which it announced on Sunday night, were "irreversible". |
The council's president, Tibisay Lucena, told AFP news agency that the expanded audit was not a recount but would cover all ballot boxes not audited on election day by reviewing a sample two-thirds of them over the next month. | The council's president, Tibisay Lucena, told AFP news agency that the expanded audit was not a recount but would cover all ballot boxes not audited on election day by reviewing a sample two-thirds of them over the next month. |
Venezuela uses electronic voting machines which register an elector's decision and then emit a printed receipt for the voter to deposit into a sealed ballot box. For the audit, the receipts will be compared with the electronic tallies, to check for any irregularities. | Venezuela uses electronic voting machines which register an elector's decision and then emit a printed receipt for the voter to deposit into a sealed ballot box. For the audit, the receipts will be compared with the electronic tallies, to check for any irregularities. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cuban leader Raul Castro were among the first heads of state to congratulate Mr Maduro on his win. | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cuban leader Raul Castro were among the first heads of state to congratulate Mr Maduro on his win. |
The governments of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Argentina, among others, have also voiced their backing for Mr Maduro's victory. | The governments of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Argentina, among others, have also voiced their backing for Mr Maduro's victory. |
But the US has so far refused to recognise Mr Maduro's win, calling for an audit of the results. | But the US has so far refused to recognise Mr Maduro's win, calling for an audit of the results. |
Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was not yet ready to validate the results of Sunday's poll. | Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was not yet ready to validate the results of Sunday's poll. |
Several opposition-led protests erupted across the country after the official results were announced on Sunday. | Several opposition-led protests erupted across the country after the official results were announced on Sunday. |