This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6205128.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Chavez wins Venezuela re-election | Chavez wins Venezuela re-election |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has won a third term in office, with a clear victory over his nearest rival. | President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has won a third term in office, with a clear victory over his nearest rival. |
| With most ballots counted in the presidential election, Mr Chavez had secured more than 60% of the vote, officials said. | With most ballots counted in the presidential election, Mr Chavez had secured more than 60% of the vote, officials said. |
| The president told a cheering crowd in the capital, Caracas, that the poll had been a triumph for his left-wing "Bolivarian" revolution. | |
| His main opposition rival, Manuel Rosales, has admitted defeat. | His main opposition rival, Manuel Rosales, has admitted defeat. |
| He was credited with less than 40% of the vote. | He was credited with less than 40% of the vote. |
| In his concession speech, Mr Rosales said he would continue "fighting for democracy" in the streets if necessary. | In his concession speech, Mr Rosales said he would continue "fighting for democracy" in the streets if necessary. |
| Street party | Street party |
| Minutes after the preliminary results were announced, Mr Chavez appeared at the balcony of the presidential palace in Caracas. | 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 | 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," he told tens of thousands of jubilant people. | "Today a new era has started, with the expansion of the revolution," he told tens of thousands of jubilant people. |
| Venezuela was firmly on the track to socialism, he added. | Venezuela was firmly on the track to socialism, he added. |
| The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez has won a clear mandate for another six years. | The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez has won a clear mandate for another six years. |
| The president is now likely to set about reforming the Venezuelan constitution to remove any limits on how many times he can be re-elected, our correspondent adds. | The president is now likely to set about reforming the Venezuelan constitution to remove any limits on how many times he can be re-elected, our correspondent adds. |
| Late on Sunday Chavez supporters took to the streets to celebrate, letting off fireworks and playing pro-Chavez songs over loudspeakers. | Late on Sunday Chavez supporters took to the streets to celebrate, letting off fireworks and playing pro-Chavez songs over loudspeakers. |
| Vote in pictures Q&A: Venezuela votes | Vote in pictures Q&A: Venezuela votes |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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 secured support from millions of poor Venezuelans by using oil wealth to boost social programmes. | Mr Chavez has secured support from millions of poor Venezuelans by using oil wealth to boost social programmes. |
| The president - an ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro - won elections in 1998 and 2000. | The president - an ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro - won elections in 1998 and 2000. |
| 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, argued in his campaign that the country's long-term interests lay in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment. | Mr Rosales, governor of the oil-rich western state of Zulia, argued in his campaign that the country's long-term interests lay in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment. |