Nicolas Maduro rejects claims of vote fraud

Tibisay Lucena, the head of the National Electoral Council, also dismissed Smartmatic’s claim.

“For the first time since I took up this commitment to the country, I can not guarantee the consistency or veracity of the results offered”, said Luis Rondon, one of five directors of the electoral council in a statement on social media.

The London-based company said in a statement that the vote was manipulated, “without any doubt”.

Mr Mugica said there was a one million vote discrepancy, but he did not specify whether his company’s figures showed one million fewer, or one million more, people participated in the election.

The company that provides the country’s voting machines said that the government’s claim that 8.1 million votes were cast in Sunday’s poll overestimated the tally by at least 1 million.

Despite questions surrounding the vote, Maduro has all but ensured there is nothing that can stop the government from seating the new delegates.

The National Electoral Council (CNE), considered by the opposition as Maduro’s mouthpiece, for its part, criticized the vote-tampering accusation in a statement, calling it “an irresponsible contention based on estimates with no grounding in the data”.

Key opposition figure and Miranda state Gov. Henrique Capriles said voter participation Sunday was less than 15%.

According to polling firm Datanalisis, more than 70 percent of Venezuelans oppose the new assembly.

Given that the opposition refused to field candidates, “turnout is seen as crucial in the vote”, says the BBC, with the figure giving an indication of support for the government. The next scheduled election is October, 2018.

The European Union said it would not recognize the Constituent Assembly.

The Executive Director of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), Marion Smith, has been working extensively with Venezuelan dissidents and is in direct contact with many Venezuelans on the ground amid the chaos – including the world-famous violinist Wuilly Arteaga, who was arrested and beaten last week by Maduro’s government officials.

The 545-member assembly – whose members include Maduro’s wife and son – was initially due to start work today.

The leftist leader said the assembly would open “in peace and calm” at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) Friday.

“The Constituent Assembly has aggravated the crisis in Venezuela and threatens to deteriorate other legitimate institutions provided by the Constitution, such as the national assembly”, said the Spanish newspaper El País.

In a continuing show of defiance, Ortega Diaz filed a court order Thursday demanding that the installation of the new assembly be halted.

Latin American nations including Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru joined the United States in saying they did not recognise the results of Sunday’s election, while Brazil, Costa Rica and Panama joined the condemnation of Lopez and Ledezma’s arrest.

The Trump administration has quickly imposed additional sanctions on President Maduro as a result. In such a state there will be only one legitimate party-The United Socialist Party of Venezuela. “The threats and sanctions of the empire don’t intimidate me for a moment”, Maduro said on national television.

Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez are attempting to garner increased attention on the issue, and have taken the lead in demanding more sanctions to high ranking individuals in the Venezuelan government.

Protesters have taken to the streets in the thousands (Picture: EPA/PASCUALE GIORGIO)What does Maduro’s opposition want? Lopez’ lawyer denies the charges.

China and oil-rich Venezuela have a close diplomatic and business relationship, especially in energy.

The PSUV has sat in power for 18 years, with supporters claiming the party has used Venezuela’s large oil reserves to reduce inequality and bring stability to the country.

Britain’s Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to much of Venezuela amid fears of civil unrest.