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/6209258.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Chavez named presidential victor | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| President Hugo Chavez has been declared the winner of Venezuela's presidential election in a ceremony in the capital. | |
| He tallied nearly 63% of the final vote, which put him 25 points ahead of opposition candidate Manuel Rosales. | |
| Mr Chavez has described Sunday's victory as "another defeat for the devil, who tries to dominate the world", a clear reference to the US. | Mr Chavez has described Sunday's victory as "another defeat for the devil, who tries to dominate the world", a clear reference to the US. |
| US officials have acknowledged that Mr Chavez won by a definitive margin, and tried to strike a conciliatory tone. | US officials have acknowledged that Mr Chavez won by a definitive margin, and tried to strike a conciliatory tone. |
| Tom Shannon - the top US diplomat on Latin America - told the BBC that Mr Chavez's victory offered both sides a chance to improve their fractured relationship. | Tom Shannon - the top US diplomat on Latin America - told the BBC that Mr Chavez's victory offered both sides a chance to improve their fractured relationship. |
| "This is a time in which, following the election, we can look at the areas where historically we've worked together well," he said. | "This is a time in which, following the election, we can look at the areas where historically we've worked together well," he said. |
| "Whether it's on the fight against drugs, the fight against terrorism, promoting a commercial relationship with Venezuela or, most importantly of all, our energy relationship, and see how we can construct something positive." | "Whether it's on the fight against drugs, the fight against terrorism, promoting a commercial relationship with Venezuela or, most importantly of all, our energy relationship, and see how we can construct something positive." |
| 'New era' | 'New era' |
| Mr Shannon's counterpart in Caracas, Jorge Valero, said his government had always been prepared to establish a dialogue with all governments all over the world. | Mr Shannon's counterpart in Caracas, Jorge Valero, said his government had always been prepared to establish a dialogue with all governments all over the world. |
| "The problem has been that the US government didn't respect our sovereignty," he said. | "The problem has been that the US government didn't respect our sovereignty," he said. |
| "But if they respect our political process, they respect the decision taken by the people, my government will, of course, take into account this position." | "But if they respect our political process, they respect the decision taken by the people, my government will, of course, take into account this position." |
| President Chavez - who won elections in both 1998 and 2000 - triumphed after a campaign in which he characterised his rival as a lackey of the US. | President Chavez - who won elections in both 1998 and 2000 - triumphed after a campaign in which he characterised his rival as a lackey of the US. |
| Addressing tens of thousands of jubilant supporters on Sunday night, Mr Chavez said: "Today a new era has started, with the expansion of the revolution." | Addressing tens of thousands of jubilant supporters on Sunday night, Mr Chavez said: "Today a new era has started, with the expansion of the revolution." |
| He added that Venezuela was firmly on the track to socialism. | He added that Venezuela was firmly on the track to socialism. |
| Mr Chavez has vowed that during his new six-year term, he will boost the social programmes that have won him support among millions of impoverished Venezuelans. | Mr Chavez has vowed that during his new six-year term, he will boost the social programmes that have won him support among millions of impoverished Venezuelans. |
| He is also expected to reform the Venezuelan constitution to remove any limits on how many times he can be re-elected. | He is also expected to reform the Venezuelan constitution to remove any limits on how many times he can be re-elected. |