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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Chavez opponents make poll gains | Chavez opponents make poll gains |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela's opposition has made gains in regional polls, but President Hugo Chavez's allies have held on to 17 of the country's 22 governorships. | Venezuela's opposition has made gains in regional polls, but President Hugo Chavez's allies have held on to 17 of the country's 22 governorships. |
| The opposition took at least three including the two most populous states, and won mayoral elections in Caracas. | The opposition took at least three including the two most populous states, and won mayoral elections in Caracas. |
| The polls were regarded as a critical test for Mr Chavez, whose allies until now controlled 21 states. | The polls were regarded as a critical test for Mr Chavez, whose allies until now controlled 21 states. |
| The president said the outcome of the vote was an endorsement of Venezuela's "socialist project". | The president said the outcome of the vote was an endorsement of Venezuela's "socialist project". |
| 'Exemplary conduct' | 'Exemplary conduct' |
| With more than 95% of votes counted overall, the opposition won the key states of Miranda and Zulia, the biggest in terms of electorate. | |
| A new stage is beginning - for me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path' Hugo ChavezVenezuelan President | A new stage is beginning - for me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path' Hugo ChavezVenezuelan President |
| They also won mayoral elections in Caracas - formerly held by a Chavez supporter. The post is seen by some as the second most important job in the country. | They also won mayoral elections in Caracas - formerly held by a Chavez supporter. The post is seen by some as the second most important job in the country. |
| Mayor-elect Antonio Ledezma called on the government to work with him to "rescue Caracas" from problems such as rising crime and ageing infrastructure. | |
| Mr Chavez's Socialist Party also made gains. They held onto the state of Sucre, the central Caracas district of Libertador and the president's home state, Barinas, where his brother was elected governor. | |
| The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says the results have enabled both sides to claim some sort of success. | The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says the results have enabled both sides to claim some sort of success. |
| "A new stage is beginning," Mr Chavez said. "For me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path.'" | "A new stage is beginning," Mr Chavez said. "For me, as the leader of the Venezuelan socialist project, the people are telling me: 'Chavez, keep on the same path.'" |
| Opposition leader Manuel Rosales said: "What's important is that the map of Venezuela has started to change." | |
| Officials estimated turnout at 65% of Venezuela's 17 million eligible voters, a record for local elections in recent years. | Officials estimated turnout at 65% of Venezuela's 17 million eligible voters, a record for local elections in recent years. |
| As well as governorships, more than 300 mayoral positions were up for grabs. | As well as governorships, more than 300 mayoral positions were up for grabs. |
| The electoral commission described the conduct of voters as exemplary. | The electoral commission described the conduct of voters as exemplary. |
| The outcomes in two states have not yet been published, but the head of the electoral commission was quoted as saying they had been narrowly won by the opposition. | The outcomes in two states have not yet been published, but the head of the electoral commission was quoted as saying they had been narrowly won by the opposition. |