>**The leaders of seven European Union states called on Venezuela Saturday (3 August) to publish its voting records to show the “full transparency and integrity of the electoral process”.**
>The statement, from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain expressed “strong concern” about the situation in the country following the contested presidential election.
>President Nicolás Maduro has claimed victory in last weekend’s vote, but the opposition has disputed the official result, claiming Edmundo González Urrutia won.
>“We call on the Venezuelan authorities to promptly publish all voting records,” read the statement from the seven countries’ leaders.
>Such a step was necessary to “recognise the will of the Venezuelan people”, it added.
>“The rights of all Venezuelans, especially political leaders, must be respected during this process.
>“We strongly condemn any arrest or threat against them,” the statement added, saying that authorities should respect the people’s “right to protest and assemble peacefully”.
>That result has already been rejected by countries including the United States and Latin American neighbours Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Uruguay.
>They say available results show the opposition candidate González Urrutia was the clear winner.
>The government has ordered the expulsion of diplomats from some countries questioning Maduro’s victory. Argentine diplomats who reached Buenos Aires on Saturday said power had been cut to their embassy, as hooded police kept guard outside.
>The opposition has launched a website with copies of 84% of ballots cast, showing an easy win for González Urrutia. The government claims these are forged.
>Eleven civilians reportedly have died and more than 1,000 have been detained in the protests that erupted after the country’s CNE election authority, loyal to Maduro, on Friday proclaimed him the winner with 52% of the vote to 43% for Gonzalez Urrutia. Officials said one soldier died as well.
>The 61-year-old Maduro has reacted fiercely to the widespread international criticism, describing allegations of vote fraud as a “trap” orchestrated by Washington to justify “a coup.”
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>**The leaders of seven European Union states called on Venezuela Saturday (3 August) to publish its voting records to show the “full transparency and integrity of the electoral process”.**
>The statement, from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain expressed “strong concern” about the situation in the country following the contested presidential election.
>President Nicolás Maduro has claimed victory in last weekend’s vote, but the opposition has disputed the official result, claiming Edmundo González Urrutia won.
>“We call on the Venezuelan authorities to promptly publish all voting records,” read the statement from the seven countries’ leaders.
>Such a step was necessary to “recognise the will of the Venezuelan people”, it added.
>“The rights of all Venezuelans, especially political leaders, must be respected during this process.
>“We strongly condemn any arrest or threat against them,” the statement added, saying that authorities should respect the people’s “right to protest and assemble peacefully”.
>That result has already been rejected by countries including the United States and Latin American neighbours Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Uruguay.
>They say available results show the opposition candidate González Urrutia was the clear winner.
>The government has ordered the expulsion of diplomats from some countries questioning Maduro’s victory. Argentine diplomats who reached Buenos Aires on Saturday said power had been cut to their embassy, as hooded police kept guard outside.
>The opposition has launched a website with copies of 84% of ballots cast, showing an easy win for González Urrutia. The government claims these are forged.
>Eleven civilians reportedly have died and more than 1,000 have been detained in the protests that erupted after the country’s CNE election authority, loyal to Maduro, on Friday proclaimed him the winner with 52% of the vote to 43% for Gonzalez Urrutia. Officials said one soldier died as well.
>The 61-year-old Maduro has reacted fiercely to the widespread international criticism, describing allegations of vote fraud as a “trap” orchestrated by Washington to justify “a coup.”