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Venezuela campaign starts to elect Chavez's successor Venezuela: Maduro begins campaign in Chavez's hometown
(about 11 hours later)
The official election campaign to replace the late President Hugo Chavez is getting under way in Venezuela. As Venezuela's official election campaign gets under way, acting President Nicolas Maduro has visited the house where Hugo Chavez was born.
The two main candidates have already been holding events in the month since Mr Chavez died of cancer. Mr Maduro met relatives and supporters of the late president in his hometown - Sabaneta de Barinas - and vowed to continue his social reform programme.
On Monday, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles accused acting president Nicolas Maduro of unfairly using state media in his campaign. The election on 14 April will choose a replacement for Mr Chavez.
He is trailing Mr Maduro in the opinion polls for the election on 14 April, the first without Mr Chavez for 15 years. Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles will begin his campaign in Monagas state
"The state media have become a propaganda wing of a political party," Mr Capriles said about Mr Maduro's United Socialist Party (PSUV). The official campaign has just begun, but the two main candidates have already been holding events since Mr Chavez died of cancer on 5 March.
In response, Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas asked Mr Capriles to be interviewed on state television, a request Mr Capriles has turned down in the past saying state media was biased against him. Mr Maduro explained why he decided to begin the campaign in Mr Chavez's home state of Barinas.
"We are here to make a commitment to the land where he was born: we will not let the people down and we will go the last consequences in order to build socialism."
In Chavez's footstepsIn Chavez's footsteps
Mr Maduro, who was chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor before the former president travelled to Cuba for cancer surgery in December, will start his campaign in Barinas, Mr Chavez's home state. Mr Maduro was chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor before the former president travelled to Cuba for cancer surgery in December.
He will then follow the route Mr Chavez travelled during the last presidential campaign six months ago, hoping that he too, will end it in the presidential palace. After the first events in Barinas state, Mr Maduro will follow the route Mr Chavez travelled during the last presidential campaign six months ago, hoping that he too, will end it in the presidential palace.
Mr Capriles will kick off his official campaign in the state of Monegas, after a previous plan to start in Barinas was labelled "a provocation" by the government. Mr Capriles will kick off his official campaign in the state of Monagas, after a previous plan to start in Barinas was labelled "a provocation" by the government.
The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says even though these are the first elections without the presence of Mr Chavez for almost two decades, he continues to dominate the campaign.The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says even though these are the first elections without the presence of Mr Chavez for almost two decades, he continues to dominate the campaign.
Mr Maduro has continually invoked the memory of Mr Chavez and called himself his son and apostle, while Mr Capriles has told his supporters that Mr Maduro is not as competent as the late president.Mr Maduro has continually invoked the memory of Mr Chavez and called himself his son and apostle, while Mr Capriles has told his supporters that Mr Maduro is not as competent as the late president.
Mr Capriles has also focussed on insecurity in the country, saying that the government has failed to put forward "a single proposal to defeat violence and give peace to Venezuela". Mr Capriles has also focused on insecurity in the country, saying that the government has failed to put forward "a single proposal to defeat violence and give peace to Venezuela".
According to Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, 3,400 murders were recorded in Venezuela in the first three months of 2013.According to Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, 3,400 murders were recorded in Venezuela in the first three months of 2013.
Polls suggest Mr Maduro has a lead of 14 points over Mr Capriles, with the remaining five candidates for the presidency trailing way behind.Polls suggest Mr Maduro has a lead of 14 points over Mr Capriles, with the remaining five candidates for the presidency trailing way behind.