South America rushes to back Maduro as U.S. casts doubt on Venezuela vote

[dipsydoodle]

10. Maduro gets South American backing in Venezuela votes dispute

(Reuters) - Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro won a collective show of support from South American leaders early on Friday in Lima as his plans to widen an audit of electronic votes helped calm tensions over the disputed election.

The last-minute meeting of the regional group Unasur ended in Peru hours before Maduro's scheduled swearing in ceremony in Caracas.

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Responding to demands by Maduro's rival Henrique Capriles for a recount, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) said late on Thursday it would audit the 46 percent of electronic votes that remain unchecked. An audit of more than half of votes was carried out on voting day.

"We welcome the decision of the CNE to implement a system that permits a full audit of election results," Unasur said in an official declaration in which it congratulated Maduro on his victory and called on both sides to "reject violent acts that put the social peace of the country at risk".

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/19/uk-venezuela-election-idUKBRE93H13D20130419

possibly a duplicate of reply #6.