Protests over Venezuela's disputed election to succeed the late Hugo Chavez have so far left seven people dead and dozens injured, as president-elect Nicolas Maduro and his rival traded blame Tuesday. The political crisis in the oil-rich country deepened as protests swept parts of Caracas and other Venezuelan cities for a second day following a weekend election which electoral authorities say was won narrowly by Maduro.

The United States on Tuesday questioned Venezuelan authorities' decision to certify the election of late president Hugo Chavez's heir but condemned the violence during political protests. The National Election Council's proclamation of President Nicolas Maduro as "the victor before completing a full recount is difficult to understand," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters. "They did not explain their haste in taking this decision," he said, adding that the United States was not ready to recognize Maduro as the winner.

A supporter of president-elect Nicolas Maduro was shot dead Monday night during protests over Maduro's slim victory in a special weekend election, Venezuela's foreign minister said Tuesday. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said Jose Ponce, 45, was killed by gunfire in the Caracas suburb of Baruta while protesting in favor of Maduro, whose win in Sunday's election has been rejected by opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. jm/sst

Thousands of opposition supporters crammed the streets of Caracas on Monday, banging pots, burning trash bags and chanting "fraud" to protest the confirmation of late leader Hugo Chavez's political heir as president-elect. The demonstration erupted as the National Electoral Council (CNE) certified the victory of acting President Nicolas Maduro against his opponent Henrique Capriles, who refused to concede defeat and demanded a full recount. At one spot, police dispersed a group of protesters with tear gas.