Hugo Chávez re-elected in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez won re-election Sunday night, defeating challenger Henrique Capriles and gaining six more years to cement his legacy and press ahead with his crusade for socialism in the country with the world's largest proven oil reserves.

With about 90 percent of the votes counted, Chávez had more than 54 percent and Capriles had 45 percent, National Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena said. She said 81 percent of the nearly 19 million registered voters cast ballots, one of the largest turnouts in years.

It was Chávez's third re-election victory in nearly 14 years in office. Fireworks exploded in downtown Caracas, and Chávez's supporters celebrated, waving flags and jumping for joy outside the presidential palace.

"Thank you, my God, thank you to everyone," Chávez, 58, said via Twitter, Bloomberg News reported. "Thanks to my beloved people!! Long live Venezuela!!!!"

Capriles conceded, congratulated Chávez and told his own supporters not to feel defeated. "We have planted many seeds across Venezuela and I know that these seeds are going to produce many trees," he told supporters late Sunday night.

Capriles, 40, former governor of Miranda state, became a strong challenger after winning a February primary and rallied an opposition that grew more united and better organized than in the past. He had been expected to halt preferential oil deals with allies such as Cuba, loosen state economic controls and increase private investment.

Chávez spent heavily in the months before the vote, building public housing and bankrolling expanded social programs providing benefits to poor families.

Chávez spoke little during the campaign about his fight with cancer, which has included surgery to remove tumors from his pelvic region. He has said recent tests showed no sign of illness.