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 9 Version 10
Chavez wins Venezuela re-election Chavez wins Venezuela re-election
(about 1 hour 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, securing a clear lead over rival Manuel Rosales.
With most ballots counted in the presidential election, Mr Chavez had secured more than 60% of the vote, officials said. With most of the ballots counted, Mr Chavez had taken 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. The president, who has secured the support of the poor by using oil to fund welfare, told crowds his left-wing "Bolivarian" revolution had triumphed.
His main opposition rival, Manuel Rosales, has admitted defeat. The results are thought likely to rile the US, which worries about Mr Chavez's potential to destabilise Latin America.
He was credited with less than 40% of the vote. "It's another defeat for the devil, who tries to dominate the world," Mr Chavez told cheering supporters, mocking US President George W Bush, and sending out a "brotherly" salute to Cuba's leader Fidel Castro.
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 partyStreet 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, CaracasIt 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, said the president, who has vowed to boost the social programmes that won him support among millions of impoverished Venezuelans.
The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez has won a clear mandate for another six years. He now has a clear mandate to rule for the next six years, and is likely to set about reforming the Venezuelan constitution to remove any limits on how many times he can be re-elected, our correspondent says.
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 votesVote 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. The president, who won elections in both 1998 and 2000, is the fourth leftist to win an election in the region in recent weeks.
The president - an ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro - won elections in 1998 and 2000. He won after a campaign in which he characterised his rival as a lackey of the US.
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, for his part said the leftist leader was turning Venezuela into a communist state, calling him "a puppet seated on Castro's lap".
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. He argued that the country's long-term interests lay in free-market policies and attracting foreign investment, and accused Chavez of concentrating power in his own hands while squandering Venezuela's resources.