Venezuela’s Machado says opposition candidate won 70% of the vote

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said early on Monday that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won 70% of the vote in a presidential contest over the weekend.

The declaration came despite the national electoral council announcing a 51% victory for President Nicolas Maduro, contradicting several exit polls.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb)