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Venezuela: Maduro begins campaign in Chavez's hometown Maduro and Capriles kick off Venezuelan campaign
(about 5 hours later)
As Venezuela's official election campaign gets under way, acting President Nicolas Maduro has visited the house where Hugo Chavez was born. The two men vying to replace the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, have addressed tens of thousands of people on the first official day of campaigning for this month's election.
Mr Maduro met relatives and supporters of the late president in his hometown - Sabaneta de Barinas - and vowed to continue his social reform programme. The acting president, Nicolas Maduro, began his campaign in Mr Chavez's hometown, Sabaneta de Barinas.
The election on 14 April will choose a replacement for Mr Chavez. He vowed to continue his programme of social reforms.
Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles will begin his campaign in Monagas state Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said in Monagas state the government would do anything to hold on to power.
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. He called on his supporters to go to the polls on 10 April.
"All I have is the power of the people. I don't have the support of the courts," he told tens of thousands of his supporters in Maturin, capital of the eastern state of Monagas.
"Each one of you should take the campaign to your homes, to your neighbourhoods," said Mr Capriles, who was defeated by Mr Chavez in last year's presidential election.
Chavez evoked
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 after 14 years in office.
Mr Maduro explained why he decided to begin the campaign in Mr Chavez's home state of Barinas.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.""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 footsteps He reminded voters he had been chosen by the late president to continue his programme of social reforms.
Mr Maduro was chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor before the former president travelled to Cuba for cancer surgery in December. "We can say out loud that our people has never betrayed Hugo Chavez. We never let him down. This people is ready to continue the revolution, the historic legacy he has left us," Mr Maduro said to a crowd of supporters in Sabaneta de Barinas' main square.
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. 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 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 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".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.