While government officials complained of violence by Henrique Capriles' supporters, incidents of intimidation by pro-government forces also occurred.
Charges that the U.S. Embassy has been 'financing and leading all the violent acts', backing 'neo-Nazi groups'.
Clashes resulted in at least 7 dead amid accusations of a coup.
Post-election protests challenging Chavez successor Nicolas Maduro.
Nicolas Maduro has won Venezuela's presidential election by a stunningly narrow margin.
Victory followed an often ugly, mudslinging campaign; opposition insists on recount.
Nicolas Maduro edged the opposition's leader by only about 300,000 votes, but the opposition candidate demanded a full recount.
Just a month after the longtime president died from cancer, the first election will test his grip on the political culture.
Extensive campaign arm assembled over 14 years of the former president's rule could be vital to his hand-picked sucessor's election hopes.