Anti-Maduro protests spread as Venezuelan opposition says he stole vote
The Hindu
Opponents and supporters rally as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro wins disputed election, sparking protests and international reactions.
Opponents and supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro planned to rally on Tuesday as protests and clashes spread after a weekend election was awarded to the long-ruling socialist despite opposition claims of a landslide victory.
Renewed instability in the South American oil producing nation brought divided international reaction.
The United States said Mr. Maduro's re-election had no credibility and was mulling more sanctions, while China and Russia congratulated him.
Protests began after the election board declared on Monday that Mr. Maduro had won a third term with 51% of votes to extend his "Chavista" movement's quarter-century rule.
The opposition, which considers the election body in the pockets of a dictatorial government, said the 73% of vote tallies to which it has access showed its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had more than twice as many votes as Mr. Maduro.
Many Venezuelans staged "cacerolazos", a traditional Latin American protest where people bang pots and pans in anger.
Some blocked roads, lit fires and threw petrol bombs at police as protests proliferated, including near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.