Maduro wins second term amid claims of vote rigging

Venezuela's electoral council says Nicolás Maduro has won re‑election, in a vote marred by an opposition boycott and claims of foul play.

Early reports said turnout for the vote was unusually low ‑ about 46% of the electorate.

The main opposition candidate, Henri Falcón, rejected the result soon after the polls closed.

With more than 90% of the votes counted, Mr Maduro had 67.7% ‑ 5.8 million votes ‑ National Electoral Council.

Falcón won 21.2% ‑ 1.8 million votes ‑ she said.

Government officials said the polls were "free and fair" but most of the opposition had joined a boycot.

The administration of the US President Donald Trump has said it will not recognise the result.

Posting on Twitter ahead of the vote, the US mission to the United Nations called the process an "insult to democracy".

Source: BBC