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The opposition has failed to oust Chavez despite its best efforts

Former US President Jimmy Carter has endorsed official results showing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won Sunday's vote to remain in office. Mr Carter said his team of observers had also concluded there was a "clear difference in favour" of Mr Chavez. He was speaking after the opposition claimed there had been massive fraud in the referendum and called a protest. Later, at least three people were said to have been injured after gunmen fired at an anti-Chavez protest in Caracas. The head of the Organisation of American States, Cesar Gaviria, also said his monitors had not found "any element of fraud". The endorsement of the international observers will make it difficult for the opposition to take their grievances much further.[more

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