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Capriles to formally contest Venezuela poll results

Venezuela opposition leader Henrique Capriles announced Wednesday he would formally contest results from last month's presidential poll, as both sides held rival May Day rallies in Caracas. Capriles told supporters at his demonstration in eastern Caracas that the formal challenge would be presented to the Supreme Court on Thursday. He had been under a Monday deadline if he wanted to file with the top court.

Capriles to formally contest Venezuela poll results

Venezuela opposition leader Henrique Capriles announced Wednesday he would formally contest results from last month's presidential poll, as both sides held rival May Day rallies in Caracas. Capriles told supporters at his demonstration in eastern Caracas that the formal challenge would be presented to the Supreme Court on Thursday. He had been under a Monday deadline if he wanted to file with the top court.

Opposition to formally contest Venezuela poll result

Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said Wednesday that his campaign will formally contest the official results of his country's presidential elections in a Supreme Court filing. Capriles told a May Day rally the formal challenge would be presented to the top court on Thursday. President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the April 14 vote to replace the late Hugo Chavez as Venezuela's leader. jm/dc

Venezuela legislators brawl amid tensions over disputed election; opposition lawmaker injured

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's postelection tensions erupted into a brawl between lawmakers Tuesday night that left at least one opposition member badly bruised and bleeding. Pro-government legislators started throwing punches after members of the opposition coalition unfurled a banner in the National Assembly protesting a postelection ban stripping opposition lawmakers of most of their legislative powers, opposition lawmaker Ismael Garcia told The Associated Press. Video showed groups of legislators shoving and pushing each other on the floor.

Lawmakers come to blows in Venezuela assembly

Political tensions over Venezuela's disputed presidential election boiled over Tuesday in the National Assembly as government and opposition lawmakers said they physically clashed. "I'm not the only one who has been beaten. They have struck several lawmakers. (Assembly speaker) Diosdado Cabello has to be held to account personally," said opposition lawmaker Julio Borges.

Venezuela vote audit, rejected by opposition, begins

Venezuelan authorities on Monday began a partial audit of the disputed election won by the late Hugo Chavez's handpicked successor, as the opposition rejected the move as insufficient. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who says he was the real winner of the April 14 presidential vote, has accused election officials of rejecting his appeal for a full recount on the orders of the ruling Socialist Party.

Venezuela's Maduro visits Cuba to strengthen ties

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Cuba to strengthen ties with the communist regime of the island, the state run media said Saturday. Maduro, the hand-picked heir to the late Hugo Chavez, landed in Cuba late Friday on an official visit to further strengthen the "strategic alliance" between the two countries, the daily Gramna reported. The newspaper splashed a photo of Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez welcoming Maduro at the airport.

Venezuela presidential rival charges election 'stolen'

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, refusing to concede defeat, accused Nicolas Maduro's government Wednesday of stealing the country's recent presidential elections. "The truth -- and it is as big as our country is wide -- is that you stole the election. That is the truth. You stole this electoral process, and you have to explain that to this country and to the world," a defiant Capriles told a news conference.

Venezuela's parliament launches probe into Capriles

By Deisy Buitrago and Daniel Wallis CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government-controlled parliament set up an inquiry on Wednesday into violence over a disputed election that authorities blame on opposition leader Henrique Capriles. Nine people died and dozens were injured after opposition protests against Nicolas Maduro's narrow April 14 presidential poll win turned violent around the South American nation.

US welcomes Venezuela's appointment of envoy

The United States voiced hope Wednesday for a "productive" relationship with Venezuela as it welcomed the appointment of a new envoy to Washington by the successor of leftist leader Hugo Chavez. President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday named ruling lawmaker Calixto Ortega as the charge d'affaires at the embassy in Washington after the United States clarified that it was not seeking sanctions over Venezuela's disputed election.
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