Tensions high in Venezuela after contested election, with more arrests feared

Shops and public transport across Venezuela shut down on Wednesday as tensions over a fiercely disputed presidential election and rumors of more opposition arrests and sporadic violence kept many people home.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled since 2013, was proclaimed the winner of the Sunday vote by the electoral council. But the opposition says its tally of about 90% of votes shows that its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received more than double the support attracted by Maduro.

As the dispute entered its third day amid growing calls for more transparency, the government insisted it had not produced comprehensive vote totals at the polling station level because of a system hack originating in North Macedonia for the extended delay, without providing any evidence to back that up.

The U.S.-based Carter Center, one of the few independent monitors allowed to observe the election, announced in a statement late Tuesday that the election "cannot be considered democratic." It said the process was slanted in favor of Maduro and flawed throughout, describing the electoral authority's failure to publish disaggregated results a "serious breach."

In remarks broadcast on state television on Wednesday, Maduro said he rejected all threats, including the possibility of new U.S. sanctions.

Maduro pledged that his socialist party is ready to release all of its vote tallies, and said he has asked the top court to force opposition parties to do the same.

Early Monday morning, Venezuela's electoral authority — which the opposition accuses of being in Maduro's pocket - announced that he won another term in office, attracting 51% of the vote, with a seven-point margin over Gonzalez.

But shortly afterwards, Venezuela's main opposition