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Venezuela to vote for president Chavez seeks re-election mandate
(about 4 hours later)
People in Venezuela are set to go to the polls in a presidential election. Venezuelans are set to vote in a presidential election that offers starkly contrasting visions of their country's future course.
Hugo Chavez, the left-wing incumbent and outspoken critic of the United States, is seeking a new six-year term to complete his socialist revolution.Hugo Chavez, the left-wing incumbent and outspoken critic of the United States, is seeking a new six-year term to complete his socialist revolution.
His main challenger Manuel Rosales - a state governor - wants to maintain a market-based system. His main challenger, Manuel Rosales, wants to keep a market-based system.
The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez is widely expected to win as most poor and working class voters like his anti-poverty programme. Mr Chavez has won support from millions of poor Venezuelans by using oil wealth to boost social programmes.
However, our correspondent adds, Mr Rosales has been gaining in popularity and leads an opposition that seems more united than it did a year ago. He is widely expected to win but Mr Rosales has been gaining in popularity and leads an opposition that seems more united than it did a year ago.
Whoever wins the election will have to try to unite a deeply divided country or face much political instability, the BBC's Greg Morsbach reports from Caracas.
'Last chance''Last chance'
Venezuela's 16 million voters must decide whether Mr Chavez should be rewarded with another term in office. Venezuela's 16 million voters are deciding whether Mr Chavez should be rewarded with another term in office.
Q&A: Venezuela votesQ&A: Venezuela votes
Rising to power in 1999 on a wave of general dissatisfaction, he used the boom in oil revenues to redistribute wealth to the poor. Mr Chavez, who rose to power in 1999 amid widespread disenchantment with the old political order, has promised to consolidate what he calls his "social revolution".
He has garnered support by using the boom in oil revenues to redistribute wealth to the poor.
"Chavez was sent here by God," Rosa Gonzalez, 41, told the Associated Press news agency."Chavez was sent here by God," Rosa Gonzalez, 41, told the Associated Press news agency.
"He knows what it is to be poor. He suffered it as a boy, and that's why he understands us and tries to help us," she said."He knows what it is to be poor. He suffered it as a boy, and that's why he understands us and tries to help us," she said.
However, Margarita Nunez, a 23-year-old student told AP that she feared the radical plans that Mr Chavez may have in mind. However, Margarita Nunez, a 23-year-old student, told AP she feared the radical plans that Mr Chavez may have in mind.
"This is our last chance. This is the last time we can stop him from ruining this country," she insisted. "This is our last chance," she said. "This is the last time we can stop him from ruining this country."
Deep divisions Mr Chavez's critics accuse him of concentrating power in his own hands and squandering Venezuela's oil wealth.
Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western state of Zulia, insists Venezuela's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment. Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western state of Zulia, says Venezuela's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment.
He has pledged to roll back policies which, he says, are leading the country towards a Cuban-style communist system.He has pledged to roll back policies which, he says, are leading the country towards a Cuban-style communist system.
Whoever wins the election will have to try to unite a deeply divided country or face much political instability in the future, our correspondent says. Hundreds of international election observers are in Venezuela, including from the European Union and the Organisation of American States.
Hundreds of international observers are currently in the country.
The high price of oil in recent years has led to economic growth and increased spending in Venezuela - a key oil exporter.