Venezuela, Aug 01 (V7N) - President Nicolás Maduro has asked Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice to audit the recent presidential election results, following opposition claims and criticism from international observers regarding the election's transparency.
 
Maduro, speaking outside the Supreme Court headquarters in Caracas, expressed his willingness to face any investigation and pledged to present all vote tally sheets from Sunday's election. This marks his first significant concession towards addressing demands for electoral transparency. However, critics argue that the Supreme Tribunal is too closely aligned with his government to conduct an impartial review.
 
The Carter Center, which monitored the election, condemned the audit request, stating that the court’s lack of independence undermines the credibility of any review. Jennie K. Lincoln of the Carter Center highlighted concerns about the government’s control over the review process and criticized the overall transparency of the election.
 
Maduro's main rival, Edmundo González, and opposition leader María Corina Machado claim that their data from electronic voting machines indicates a victory for González, contradicting official results which show Maduro in the lead. They argue that the release of detailed vote counts is essential to verify the results.
 
The Venezuelan government has reported cyber-attacks on the National Electoral Council and presented videos allegedly showing attacks on electoral offices. Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the arrest of over 1,000 individuals connected to these incidents.
 
International pressure is mounting, with leaders like Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva calling for transparency and the release of detailed voting data. The Organization of American States also convened but failed to pass a resolution demanding immediate publication of granular results.
 
The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, echoed concerns about the lack of independent verification. Meanwhile, protests erupted across Venezuela following the announcement of the results, leading to violent clashes with security forces. Human rights groups reported at least 11 deaths related to the unrest.
 
As the situation continues to unfold, opposition leaders urge calm and demand that the election results and vote tally sheets be made public to ensure national reconciliation.
 
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