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Nicolas Maduro sworn in as new Venezuelan president | Nicolas Maduro sworn in as new Venezuelan president |
(35 minutes 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. | 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. |
During his speech, a man grabbed the microphone and was dragged away, after which Mr Maduro criticised security saying he could have been shot. | During his speech, a man grabbed the microphone and was dragged away, after which Mr Maduro criticised security saying he could have been shot. |
Thousands gathered on the streets of Caracas to show their support for Mr Maduro and to celebrate independence. | Thousands gathered on the streets of Caracas to show their support for Mr Maduro and to celebrate independence. |
The ceremony follows a decision to audit votes cast in Sunday's election. | The ceremony follows a decision to audit votes cast in Sunday's election. |
Mr Maduro was elected president ahead of opposition leader Henrique Capriles by 1.5% of the vote. | Mr Maduro was elected president ahead of 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 protested against Mr Maduro's inauguration by banging on pots and pans, and playing salsa music. | Opposition supporters protested against Mr Maduro's inauguration by banging on pots and pans, and playing salsa music. |
'Fresh lies' | 'Fresh lies' |
Mr Capriles wrote on Twitter he hoped the salsa would "be heard across Venezuela". | Mr Capriles wrote on Twitter he hoped the salsa would "be heard across Venezuela". |
"Fresh lies. Come on, Venezuela, the fight for the truth goes on!" | "Fresh lies. Come on, Venezuela, the fight for the truth goes on!" |
Mr Maduro opened his inauguration speech saying that he wanted to govern for "all Venezuelans". | Mr Maduro opened his inauguration speech saying that he wanted to govern for "all Venezuelans". |
"I want to extend the hand so we can build an inclusive nation for everybody," he told his audience during a long speech. | |
Dozens of leaders from across the region (including Brazil, Cuba and Colombia), Iran and some Arab countries attended the ceremony. | Dozens of leaders from across the region (including Brazil, Cuba and Colombia), Iran and some Arab countries attended the ceremony. |
But Mr Maduro was interrupted by a man who ran on stage and grabbed his microphone. | But Mr Maduro was interrupted by a man who ran on stage and grabbed his microphone. |
The incoming president responded by criticising his security. | The incoming president responded by criticising his security. |
"I could have been shot here," he told the audience. | "I could have been shot here," he told the audience. |
Then as he regained his composure he added: "Incident overcome. I will try to speak to this man later." | Then as he regained his composure he added: "Incident overcome. I will try to speak to this man later." |
The motives of the man, who wore a red jacket - the colour favoured by "Chavistas" - and only managed to say his name before being hustled away, were not immediately clear. | The motives of the man, who wore a red jacket - the colour favoured by "Chavistas" - and only managed to say his name before being hustled away, were not immediately clear. |
In his speech, Mr Maduro promised a "revolution within the revolution" and compared Mr Capriles to the man installed as president of Venezuela during a short-lived 2002 coup against President Chavez, Pedro Carmona. | |
"I'm willing to even talk to the devil, even to the new Carmona, if necessary to stop his hatred against me, against the people, to stop his intolerance." | |
The new president also said he would tackle corruption and crime, and to carry on Mr Chavez social programmes. | |
"I'm the first chavista president and the first workman president." | |
Mr Capriles made an appeal for peaceful protests in a bid to avoid further violence after clashes left seven people dead on Monday. | 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, Mr Chavez's chosen successor, had won a slim majority. | The council had earlier audited 54% of the vote and said this showed that Mr Maduro, Mr Chavez's chosen successor, 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. |
"This is a 'meanwhile' government. Good times are on the way," Mr Capriles wrote on Twitter. | "This is a 'meanwhile' government. Good times are on the way," Mr Capriles wrote on Twitter. |
Correspondents say the announcement comes as a surprise to many after the electoral body initially said 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 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. |