Venezuela: Maduro declared official poll winner

Venezuela's election authority has formally proclaimed Nicolas Maduro as the winner of Sunday's closely-fought presidential election.

The National Electoral Council backed the slender victory of Mr Maduro, the acting president, despite protests from opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

The official count indicates he won 50.7% of votes to Mr Capriles' 49.1%.

Following the announcement, clashes broke out between protesters and police in the capital Caracas.

Police fired tear gas at hundreds of students demonstrating in one part of the city, while elsewhere opposition supporters took to their balconies and the streets to bang pots and pans in protest.

Mr Capriles had earlier urged national protests and a march on the electoral offices in the capital in the event that Mr Maduro was declared victor.

He called on the National Electoral Council not to confirm the election result, citing voting irregularities, and demanded a recount.

He said he regarded the election of Mr Maduro as "illegitimate".

The poll was called after President Hugo Chavez died of cancer on 5 March.

Mr Maduro is a former bus driver who rose to become Mr Chavez's vice-president and heir apparent.

Mr Capriles said there were more than 3,200 "incidents" from Sunday's poll that needed to be examined.