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| Venezuela braces for May Day rallies | Venezuela braces for May Day rallies |
| (10 days later) | |
| Political divisions and resentment in Venezuela are set to return to the streets on Wednesday with both the ruling and opposition coalitions planning to stage demonstrations in Caracas. | Political divisions and resentment in Venezuela are set to return to the streets on Wednesday with both the ruling and opposition coalitions planning to stage demonstrations in Caracas. |
| The May Day rallies will be the first major rallies since the unrest that followed the narrow presidential election victory of Nicolas Maduro, the political heir of Hugo Chávez, on 14 April. | The May Day rallies will be the first major rallies since the unrest that followed the narrow presidential election victory of Nicolas Maduro, the political heir of Hugo Chávez, on 14 April. |
| Figures released by the national electoral council this week show the result was even tighter than first thought. Adding in votes cast overseas, the vast majority of which were for the opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, the gap was just 1.49 percentage points. | Figures released by the national electoral council this week show the result was even tighter than first thought. Adding in votes cast overseas, the vast majority of which were for the opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, the gap was just 1.49 percentage points. |
| Capriles has refused to accept the result, alleging that he was robbed of victory by double voting and other forms of electoral fraud. | Capriles has refused to accept the result, alleging that he was robbed of victory by double voting and other forms of electoral fraud. |
| A new audit of 12,000 ballot boxes started this week, but the opposition camp are boycotting the process, saying it does not dig deep enough to reveal the irregularities. | A new audit of 12,000 ballot boxes started this week, but the opposition camp are boycotting the process, saying it does not dig deep enough to reveal the irregularities. |
| The ruling party and its supporters say the opposition keep moving the goalposts in an attempt to destabilise the country. Nine people have reportedly been killed in post-election violence. | The ruling party and its supporters say the opposition keep moving the goalposts in an attempt to destabilise the country. Nine people have reportedly been killed in post-election violence. |
| On Monday judges heard conspiracy charges against a retired general, Antonio Rivero, who was a member of a rightwing party inside the opposition coalition. Videos shown in court purported to show him organising protesters in the wake of the election. | On Monday judges heard conspiracy charges against a retired general, Antonio Rivero, who was a member of a rightwing party inside the opposition coalition. Videos shown in court purported to show him organising protesters in the wake of the election. |
| Last week an American film-maker, Timothy Tracy, was detained and accused of working for US intelligence to foment unrest among students. | Last week an American film-maker, Timothy Tracy, was detained and accused of working for US intelligence to foment unrest among students. |
| Senior ruling party officials have threatened to throw Capriles in jail and labelled him a "fascist murderer." | Senior ruling party officials have threatened to throw Capriles in jail and labelled him a "fascist murderer." |
| Maduro's victory has yet to be recognised by the US, but he has received strong support from elsewhere, particularly in Latin America. | Maduro's victory has yet to be recognised by the US, but he has received strong support from elsewhere, particularly in Latin America. |
| The Venezuelan president, who has control of the world's largest untapped oil resources, signed a wide-ranging $2bn deal with Cuba at the weekend that looks set to maintain arrangements established under Chávez under which Venezuela provides oil in return for doctors and other medical expertise. | The Venezuelan president, who has control of the world's largest untapped oil resources, signed a wide-ranging $2bn deal with Cuba at the weekend that looks set to maintain arrangements established under Chávez under which Venezuela provides oil in return for doctors and other medical expertise. |
| Asserting authority at home, however, continues to be a challenge for Maduro. The May Day rallies are traditionally an opportunity for the public to express grievances or show their political colours, though normally it is the barrios that take to the streets rather than the middle class associated with the opposition. | Asserting authority at home, however, continues to be a challenge for Maduro. The May Day rallies are traditionally an opportunity for the public to express grievances or show their political colours, though normally it is the barrios that take to the streets rather than the middle class associated with the opposition. |
| The president said he was confident that the city was big enough for both demonstrations. "If the opposition wants to march, they are welcome to do so in peace. If they want to take out their flags, their things, their demands, that is part of democracy and debate", he said on television. | The president said he was confident that the city was big enough for both demonstrations. "If the opposition wants to march, they are welcome to do so in peace. If they want to take out their flags, their things, their demands, that is part of democracy and debate", he said on television. |
| Government supporters plan to march in western Caracas, while the opposition are expected to stage their demonstration in the more affluent east of the city. | Government supporters plan to march in western Caracas, while the opposition are expected to stage their demonstration in the more affluent east of the city. |
| Additional reporting by Virginia Lopez | Additional reporting by Virginia Lopez |
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