Chavez Heir To Be Sworn-In As Vote Audit Expands
CARACAS, Venezuela (CBSMiami) -- Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in as Venezuela's president on Friday.
Maduro was named by late President Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer in March, as his chosen successor.
He narrowly beat opposition challenger Henrique Capriles in Sunday's vote.
The outcome of the vote was rejected by Capriles, who has alleged thousands of irregularities at polling centers and wants a full audit of the ballots.
Now he's getting it.
Venezuela's top election official said Thursday that authorities will complete a 100% audit of votes cast in Sunday's presidential election.
The date for the start of the wider audit is to be announced by next week.
Heads of state who will join Maduro's swearing-in include Brazil's Dilma Rousseff and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, along with leaders of Chavez-era allies such as Bolivia, Uruguay and Nicaragua.
Russia and China, both partners in major oil projects in Venezuela's vast Orinoco belt region, sent delegations headed by senior officials.
