Jimmy Carter corroborates President Hugo Chavez Frias as clear winner in RR

Former US president Jimmy Carter has corroborated preliminary figures issued just after 4:00 a.m. this morning which show President Hugo Chavez Frias as the clear winner in Sundays’ recall referendum on his rule.

Carter told a news conference "our findings coincide with the partial returns announced today by the National Elections Council." On the same platform, Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Cesar Gaviria said that "observers have not found any element of fraud in the process."
According to those results, 58.2% of voters voted NO to a question on whether President Hugo Chavez Frias (50) should end his mandate ... 42% voted SI (Yes).

"Until elements of fraud emerge we are not going put the results in doubt," said Gaviria. "If the opposition has a serious concern, we are willing to work with them ... but not to put the results in doubt."

The announcements appear to overturn opposition claims that they were robbed of a decision in their favor ... CNE president Francisco Carresquero had made the announcement shortly after 4:00 a.m. against the objections of two CNE directors who said there could be no conclusion since only 94% of the votes had been tallied.

Meanwhile, Carter has called on all participants in the Venezuelans RR to accept the democratic results ... "it is now the responsibility of everyone to accept the results and work together for Venezuela’s future."

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=22451