Venezuela in turmoil as protesters dispute election result

Protesters took to the streets across Venezuela on Tuesday, holding marches and waving flags to demand President Nicols Maduro acknowledge that he lost Sunday's election to an opposition insisting it clinched a landslide victory.

The protests, which the government denounced as an attempted "coup," began on Monday after the South American country's electoral authority declared that Maduro had won a third term with 51 per cent of votes to extend a quarter-century of socialist rule.

The opposition, which considers the election body in the pockets of a dictatorial government, said its candidate,Edmundo Gonzlez, had more than twice as many votes as Madurobased on the 90 per centof vote tallies it has been able to access.

At least 11 people have been killed in different parts of the country since Sunday's election in incidents related to the count or associated protests, the rights group Foro Penal said.

A 'fascist conspiracy'

On Tuesday, both Maduro and his top legislative ally accused Gonzlez and opposition firebrand Maria Corina Machado of fomenting violence in the aftermath of the vote.

In a winding speech broadcast on state television, Maduro declared that opposition protesters had battered civilians and started fires, demanding that Gonzlez answer for them.

"Respond to that, you coward!" Maduro shouted, after saying both Gonzlez and Machado should be held accountable.

Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the congress for Maduro's ruling socialists, was more direct in a speech earlier in the day, insisting that both opposition figures must be arrested for the crimes of the protesters.

"Their bosses should go to prison," he told lawmakers, accusing Gonzalez of leading a "fascist conspiracy."

Economic collapse

Maduro, a 61-year-old former union leader and foreign minister, won election after Hugo Chavez's death in 2013 and was re-elected in 2018. The opposition said both votes were rigged.

He has presided over an economic collapse, mass migration and deteriorating relations with the West, including U.S. and EU sanctions that have crippled an already struggling oil industry.

Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino warned against allowing a repeat of the "terrible situations of 2014, 2017 and 2019," when waves of anti-government protests led to hundreds of deaths and failed to dislodge Maduro.

WATCH | Venezuela's disputedelection:

Maduro declared president in disputed Venezuela election

1 month ago

Duration 1:56

Venezuela's incumbent leader, Nicols Maduro, was declared the winner in a disputed presidential election that the opposition says was stolen from them.

Independent pollsters called Maduro's victory implausible, while governments in Washington and elsewhere in Latin America questioned the results and urged a full tabulation of votes.

"Not even [Maduro]believes the electoral scam he is celebrating," said Argentina's President Javier Milei.

Peru ordered Venezuelan diplomats to leave within 72 hours, citing "serious and arbitrary decisions made today by the Venezuelan regime."

But in a familiar global division, allies including Russia, China and leftist-led Latin American nations backed Maduro.

"China will, as always, firmly support Venezuela's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, and firmly support Venezuela's just cause of opposing external interference," Chinese President Xi Jinpingsaid in a message of congratulation.