Venezuela opposition urges vigilance as polls close

Polls are starting to close in Venezuela’s presidential election, in which the governing socialist PSUV party’s Nicolás Maduro is seeking a third term in office.

Polling stations were scheduled to shut at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT), but they have to remain open if people are still queuing to cast their vote.

Mr Maduro’s main challenger is Edmundo González, a former diplomat who has the backing of a coalition of opposition parties.

The opposition called on supporters to keep vigil at their polling stations to verify the counting process in the “decisive hours” after closing, amid widespread fears the PSUV would attempt to steal the vote.