"BBC: Observers endorse Venezuela vote"

International observers in Venezuela have confirmed President Hugo Chavez's victory in a referendum on whether he should be removed from office.

The former US president, Jimmy Carter, said Mr Chavez had won fairly, and the Organization of American States said it had not found any element of fraud.

With nearly all the votes counted, Mr Chavez has 58% backing him.

Mr Carter, who helped monitor Sunday's vote, said his team of observers had concluded there was a "clear difference in favour" of Mr Chavez.

The head of the Organization of American States, Cesar Gaviria, also said his monitors had not found "any element of fraud".

Full Article : bbc.co.uk

In quotes: Venezuela poll reactions

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has claimed victory after the release of results indicating he won a referendum on his rule.

But Mr Chavez' opponents - who mounted a sustained campaign to get the vote held - rejected the partial results as a fraud, insisting they had won.

Here are some of the responses so far to the outcome:

Full Article : bbc.co.uk