by The Commentator on 16 April 2013 14:35

Further to reports yesterday about suspected corruption in Venezuela's election this past weekend, more evidence is coming to light over vote-rigging on the side of the Chavistas and that of president-elect Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro, who enjoys the support of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is set to be inaugurated on Friday. But protests have broken out across Venezuela, with many in the nation's capital, Caracas.

Photographs seen by The Commentator (below) show questionable vote counting practices, including the sorting of ballots in back alleys and even in cars.

Last night, protestors banging pots and pans on the streets of Caracas were met with police aggression. Teargas was fired in heavy doses and armed police attempted to force people off the streets.

A White House petition started just yesterday has already amassed nearly half the number of signatures required before the Obama administration is required to produce a formal response. The petition calls upon "the International Community to urge that a full recount of votes be done in Venezuela's presidential elections". Some protestors have warned that such a process would be impossible as Maduro-supporters have already destroyed evidence. So far, 49,000 people have signed.

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