CARACAS, May 21 — Venezuelan presidential candidate Henri Falcon said he would not recognise yesterday’s election because of irregularities including the placing of nearly 13,000 pro-government stands close to polling stations.

Abstention promoted by the mainstream opposition, which said the vote was rigged in advance in favour of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro, had also harmed his cause, Falcon told reporters after polls had closed and formal results were awaited.

"We don’t recognise this electoral process,” he said. — Reuters