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Chavez claims Venezuela poll win Chavez claims Venezuela poll win
(20 minutes later)
President Hugo Chavez has declared himself the winner of Venezuela's presidential election, after early results gave him a commanding lead.President Hugo Chavez has declared himself the winner of Venezuela's presidential election, after early results gave him a commanding lead.
The president told a cheering crowd in the capital, Caracas, that the poll had been a triumph for his revolution.The president told a cheering crowd in the capital, Caracas, that the poll had been a triumph for his revolution.
Earlier, official results gave Mr Chavez an unassailable lead. With about 80% of ballots counted, he had polled more than 60% of the vote. Earlier, election officials announced that he had polled more than 60% of the vote, with more than three-quarters of ballots counted.
His opposition rival Manuel Rosales has not so far admitted defeat. His main opposition rival, Manuel Rosales, has not admitted defeat.
The BBC's Greg Morsbach, in Caracas, says it is not clear whether the opposition will try to challenge the results or not. The BBC's Greg Morsbach, in Caracas, says it is not clear whether the opposition will try to challenge the outcome or not.
Minutes after the preliminary results were announced, Mr Chavez appeared at the balcony of the presidential palace in Caracas.
It is a bigger party than New Year's Eve Taxi driver, Caracas "Today, a new era has started, with the expansion of the revolution, of a revolutionary democracy," he told the crowd.
Venezuela was firmly on the track to socialism, he added.
Street partyStreet party
Hundreds of Chavez supporters took to the streets to celebrate as the early results were announced, letting off fireworks and playing pro-Chavez songs over loudspeakers. Earlier, thousands of Chavez supporters had taken to the streets to celebrate, letting off fireworks and playing pro-Chavez songs over loudspeakers.
It is a bigger party than New Year's Eve Taxi driver, Caracas "That should be the national anthem," one taxi driver from a shanty town told Reuters news agency as he drove around an affluent area of Caracas.
"Chavez isn't going anywhere," they shouted. href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6204684.stm" class="">Vote in pictures href="/1/hi/world/americas/6198902.stm" class="">Q&A: Venezuela votes
"That should be the national anthem," one taxi driver from a slum told Reuters news agency as he drove around an affluent area of the capital, Caracas.
"People round here do not know what it is like in the slums. It is a bigger party than New Year's Eve.""People round here do not know what it is like in the slums. It is a bigger party than New Year's Eve."
Sunday's election saw a high turnout and the poll was monitored by hundreds of international observers.Sunday's election saw a high turnout and the poll was monitored by hundreds of international observers.
Mr Chavez has won support from millions of poor Venezuelans by using oil wealth to boost social programmes.Mr Chavez has won support from millions of poor Venezuelans by using oil wealth to boost social programmes.
His critics accuse him of concentrating power in his own hands and squandering Venezuela's resources.His critics accuse him of concentrating power in his own hands and squandering Venezuela's resources.
Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western state of Zulia, said the country's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment.Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western state of Zulia, said the country's long-term interests lie in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment.