At least 1 dead during protest in Venezuela against Maduro's reelection

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - At least one person died and several were injured Monday during a protest in the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy, a day after President Nicolas Maduro was formally declared the winner by the county’s electoral authority of a presidential election that has been marred by alleged fraud.

A young man lost his life during the demonstration, according to the Venezuelan human rights NGO Foro Penal.

Another 46 people were arrested during protests that took place in several cities of Venezuela.

Demonstrators burned Maduro campaign posters and knocked down at least four statues of former President Hugo Chavez. Some protesters attempted to block freeways and occupy the country’s main international airport and large crowds of people were seen walking down main roads banging pots and pans as a sign of protest.

"We have witnessed a series of events, violent attacks. They could be called terrorist criminals," said Maduro.

He denounced attacks that took place on a hundred of the more than 15,000 authorized voting venues.

Security forces cracked down on the demonstrations with violence. In the capital Caracas, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse large crowds that were moving towards the Miraflores Palace, the president's residence, to occupy it.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called on citizens to gather in front of the United Nations building in Caracas to "make their vote count."

The electoral body has not released the vote tallies from Sunday's election after proclaiming Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, compared with 44% for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

Experts say there could be a new wave of unrest in the country. Street demonstrations in previous years were crushed by the country’s military, which supports Maduro.