Nine Latin American States Demand Review of Venezuela Election Results

Nine Latin American states have called for a review of the election results in Venezuela, following the highly controversial presidential election. The states, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru, issued a joint statement urging a 'complete review of the results in the presence of independent election observers'.

They also called for a meeting under the Organization of American States (OAS) to discuss the matter. The Venezuelan electoral authority declared incumbent Nicolás Maduro the winner, with 51.2% of the votes, while the leading opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2%.

However, the opposition does not recognize the result, and there have been allegations of fraud. Protests against the election outcome have escalated, resulting in 11 deaths and 177 arrests.

Demonstrators have torn down election posters and clashed with security forces, who have responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The international community, including the US and the EU, has criticized the election, and there are calls for a peaceful transition of power.