Protests erupt in Venezuela after disputed election (VIDEOS)

Venezuelans have taken to the streets after the national electoral authority declared victory for President Maduro
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Venezuelans have taken to the streets after the national electoral authority declared victory for President Maduro

Unrest and street clashes broke out across Venezuela on Monday, after the electoral authority announced that Nicolas Maduro had been re-elected for another six-year term as president.

The opposition says the vote was marred by fraud, insisting its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won the ballot. Some opinion polls ahead of the election showed a clear majority for the challenger.

Large numbers of riot police and soldiers were deployed in Caracas to disperse protesters and prevent them from approaching the presidential palace. Over 20 Venezuelan security personnel were injured, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said.

Crowds of people were seen chanting “freedom!” and calling for the government to fall.

Footage showed posters of President Maduro ripped down, while tires, cars and trash were set alight.

In a televised address from Caracas on Monday, Maduro accused the opposition of attempting “to impose a coup d’etat in Venezuela”. Opposition leaders rejected Maduro’s allegations, and called for peaceful protests across the country.

As Maduro spoke, demonstrators reportedly tried to block highways, including one that connects the capital with Simon Bolivar International Airport.

Maduro will be serving a third consecutive six-year term, having first taken office in 2013 following the death of President Hugo Chavez.

The National Electoral Council (CNE), announced on Sunday that with 80% of ballots counted, Maduro had secured more than 51% of the vote, compared to 44% for his main rival, Edmundo Gonzales.

Following the vote, Venezuela’s electoral authority, which the opposition views as favoring the ruling party, did not immediately release the tallies from each of the 30,000 polling stations nationwide, according to media reports.

A number of countries, as well as international bodies including the UN, have called on the Venezuelan authorities to release voting records from individual polling stations.

Argentina has refused to recognize Maduro’s victory. In response Venezuela has recalled diplomats from Buenos Aires.

Diplomats from six other Latin American countries – Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay – have also been withdrawn in response to the international outcry.

Nine Latin American countries have called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) permanent council due to concerns over the election results.