Blinken: Overwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election

The US secretary of state insists Venezuelans' votes in the recent presidential election "must count".

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersOverwhelming evidence Venezuela opposition won election - BlinkenReutersOpposition leader María Corina Machado claims her party's candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won by a landslideThe US secretary of state has said there was "overwhelming evidence" Venezuela's opposition won the recent presidential election.

In a statement Antony Blinken said it was clear Edmundo González, had won the most votes - despite incumbent president Nicolás Maduro declaring a disputed victory.

"Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela's 28 July presidential election," Mr Blinken said.

His intervention comes as the presidents of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia all called on Venezuela to release the full details of last Sunday's election.

The US State Department later said Mr Blinken had spoken to Mr González to congratulate him "for receiving the most votes".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1d10453zno

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