Politics of Venezuela

Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuela's presidential election on Sunday but the opposition and key regional neighbours immediately rejected the official results.

Maduro won re-election with 51.2 percent of votes, while opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia received 44.2 percent, the electoral council announced.

Venezuelans vote Sunday between continuity in President Nicolas Maduro or change in rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia amid high tension following the incumbent's threat of a "bloodbath" if he loses, which polls suggest is likely.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in an interview that he is ready to work to normalize relations with the United States, despite ongoing sanctions crippling his country.

For three years, Juan Guaidó led the Venezuelan opposition's efforts to bring about new elections and remove socialist President Nicolás Maduro.

Three Greece-based shipping firms said they have halted trade with Venezuela after the United States imposed sanctions on vessels under their management, as Washington ramps up commercial heat on Caracas.

The US Treasury Department said on Tuesday it had sanctioned four shipping firms for transporting Venezuelan oil, the latest escalation in Washington's effort to oust socialist President Nicolás Maduro by cutting off the OPEC nation's crude exports.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro confirmed the detention of two U.S. "mercenaries" among 13 attackers involved in May 4's two failed maritime raids.

President Nicolas Maduro on Feb. 17 said he is "not afraid of military combat," accusing his US counterpart Donald Trump of plotting to invade Venezuela with the support of regional allies.

Venezuela's diplomats are reported to have 48 hours to leave the country.

Earlier, President Salvador Bukele said the US was "his country's number one ally."

The U.S. State Department on Aug. 28 opened a representative office for Venezuela in Bogota, Colombia, and said it will continue its opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and support for opposition leader Juan Guaido from there.