٠٠:٠٤:٢٩US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed 'serious concerns' over Venezuela's presidential election, urging for 'fair and transparent' counting of votes following President Nicolas Maduro's victory in the presidential election, speaking during a press conference, in Washington DC, on Monday.
"We've seen the announcement from overnight by the Venezuelan electoral representatives. And we have serious concerns that this result does not reflect the will and the votes of the Venezuelan people." he highlighted.
He urged election officials to immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of Sunday’s presidential election, while the opposition asserted their own claim to victory.
Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), announced that with 80% of the ballots counted, Maduro secured 51% of the vote, while his main rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44%.
However, the Venezuelan opposition dismissed this, claiming that Gonzalez had won up to 70% of the vote according to their counts. Despite the CNE's announcement, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed victory in the presidential election in Caracas on Sunday.
In response to a journalist's question about Maria Corina Machado being a key suspect in the alleged electoral sabotage and the possibility of her being targeted and arrested within the next hours, Patel called for the immediate publication of a detailed tabulation of votes by electoral representatives.
Maduro described the election outcome as a "triumph of peace and stability." He initially assumed power in 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chavez.
As tensions escalated between Lebanon and Israel, the spokesperson was asked about a possible evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon. Patel stated there were no plans, but he reminded about the State Department travel warnings.
"We don't have any plans for or an announcement related to an evacuation or efforts for private U.S. citizens from Lebanon. I will also use this opportunity to remind folks that as it relates to the travel advisory warning for the entire country that continues to be at Level 3 and specifically Southern Lebanon is at Level 4," he added.
'Serious concerns' - US State Dept spox calls for 'fair and transparent' vote count after Maduro declared winner of Venezuela election
US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed 'serious concerns' over Venezuela's presidential election, urging for 'fair and transparent' counting of votes following President Nicolas Maduro's victory in the presidential election, speaking during a press conference, in Washington DC, on Monday.
"We've seen the announcement from overnight by the Venezuelan electoral representatives. And we have serious concerns that this result does not reflect the will and the votes of the Venezuelan people." he highlighted.
He urged election officials to immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of Sunday’s presidential election, while the opposition asserted their own claim to victory.
Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), announced that with 80% of the ballots counted, Maduro secured 51% of the vote, while his main rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44%.
However, the Venezuelan opposition dismissed this, claiming that Gonzalez had won up to 70% of the vote according to their counts. Despite the CNE's announcement, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed victory in the presidential election in Caracas on Sunday.
In response to a journalist's question about Maria Corina Machado being a key suspect in the alleged electoral sabotage and the possibility of her being targeted and arrested within the next hours, Patel called for the immediate publication of a detailed tabulation of votes by electoral representatives.
Maduro described the election outcome as a "triumph of peace and stability." He initially assumed power in 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chavez.
As tensions escalated between Lebanon and Israel, the spokesperson was asked about a possible evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon. Patel stated there were no plans, but he reminded about the State Department travel warnings.
"We don't have any plans for or an announcement related to an evacuation or efforts for private U.S. citizens from Lebanon. I will also use this opportunity to remind folks that as it relates to the travel advisory warning for the entire country that continues to be at Level 3 and specifically Southern Lebanon is at Level 4," he added.
US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed 'serious concerns' over Venezuela's presidential election, urging for 'fair and transparent' counting of votes following President Nicolas Maduro's victory in the presidential election, speaking during a press conference, in Washington DC, on Monday.
"We've seen the announcement from overnight by the Venezuelan electoral representatives. And we have serious concerns that this result does not reflect the will and the votes of the Venezuelan people." he highlighted.
He urged election officials to immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of Sunday’s presidential election, while the opposition asserted their own claim to victory.
Elvis Amoroso, head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), announced that with 80% of the ballots counted, Maduro secured 51% of the vote, while his main rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44%.
However, the Venezuelan opposition dismissed this, claiming that Gonzalez had won up to 70% of the vote according to their counts. Despite the CNE's announcement, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claimed victory in the presidential election in Caracas on Sunday.
In response to a journalist's question about Maria Corina Machado being a key suspect in the alleged electoral sabotage and the possibility of her being targeted and arrested within the next hours, Patel called for the immediate publication of a detailed tabulation of votes by electoral representatives.
Maduro described the election outcome as a "triumph of peace and stability." He initially assumed power in 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chavez.
As tensions escalated between Lebanon and Israel, the spokesperson was asked about a possible evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon. Patel stated there were no plans, but he reminded about the State Department travel warnings.
"We don't have any plans for or an announcement related to an evacuation or efforts for private U.S. citizens from Lebanon. I will also use this opportunity to remind folks that as it relates to the travel advisory warning for the entire country that continues to be at Level 3 and specifically Southern Lebanon is at Level 4," he added.