Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Thursday for a second term, amid cheers and applause by a crowd of hundreds attending the inauguration in Caracas.

Maduro, 56, was sworn in by Supreme Court president Maikel Moreno.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay attended the swearing-in ceremony as an envoy of Turkey's goodwill toward Venezuela.

The ceremony was boycotted by the European Union, United States and Venezuela's South American neighbors, who have branded Maduro's leadership illegitimate.

Maduro won a second term in office in May.

The 55-year-old won some 5.8 million votes, or 68 percent of the total, while main opposition candidate Henri Falcon won 1.8 million votes or 21.2 percent.

Turnout was around 46 percent — the lowest in a presidential race in two decades of revolution. About 20.5 million people were eligible to vote, but many analysts predicted a low turnout after the opposition alliance Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) called on voters to boycott the poll. </s> CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in to a second term Thursday amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis, but with some long-time friends in attendance both from abroad and at home.

A dozen Latin American governments and Canada in a coalition have rejected the legitimacy of Maduro's next term, and Washington has sanctioned top officials in his government, but Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Bolivian President Evo Morales were coming to Caracas to show their support.

And while Maduro's popularity has plunged amid scarcities, hyperinflation and rising authoritarianism that have sparked a mass emigration, supporters who receive government subsidies in shantytowns continue to back the man who took over for the late Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a press conference with foreign media at Miraflores presidential palace where an image of Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar is displayed in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Maduro will be sworn-in for a second, six-year term on Thursday. (AP Photo/Boris Vergara) </s> CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in to a second term Thursday amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis, but with some long-time friends in attendance both from abroad and at home.

A dozen Latin American governments and Canada in a coalition have rejected the legitimacy of Maduro’s next term, and Washington has sanctioned top officials in his government, but Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Bolivian President Evo Morales were coming to Caracas to show their support.

And while Maduro’s popularity has plunged amid scarcities, hyperinflation and rising authoritarianism that have sparked a mass emigration, supporters who receive government subsidies in shantytowns continue to back the man who took over for the late Hugo Chavez. </s> CARACAS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a new term in office on Thursday by the nation’s Supreme Court, shrugging off global criticism that his leadership is illegitimate due to a last year’s disputed election. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth) </s> Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuela’s president-elect, months before he is due to formally take the oath of office next year for a second term.

Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuela’s president-elect, months before he is due to formally take the oath of office next year for a second term.

Nicolas Maduro confirmed as winner of Venezuela’s presidential poll in ceremony

The inauguration-like pomp left many confused because Mr Maduro’s next six-year term does not begin until January 10 and he is already president.

The ceremony came at a session of the pro-government constitutional assembly that has largely taken over powers of the opposition-led legislature. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, centre, Constituent National Assembly president Delcy Rodriguez, left, and first lady Cilia Flores, wave as they arrive for the ceremony (Ariana Cubillos/AP) In an address, Mr Maduro defended Sunday’s presidential election, calling it “free and “constitutional” despite being rejected as illegitimate by his leading challenger, by the United States and a coalition of Latin American countries.

Mr Falcon rejected the vote and called for a new election, accusing Mr Maduro of buying votes of the poor by offering prizes. Mr Maduro said he recognised troubles facing Venezuelans, yet vowed to press forward with the country’s socialist policies, which have prompted crushing US sanctions.

“Those sanctions will bring serious difficulties, painful difficulties that we will face and will overcome and will defeat.”

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, left, is recognised as the winner of the presidential election (Ariana Cubillos/AP) Venezuela was once among Latin American’s wealthiest nations, but it has sunk into deep economic crisis under Mr Maduro, who replaced his mentor, the late-president Hugo Chavez, in 2013.

In a gesture toward mending Venezuela’s deep divides, Mr Maduro called on a commission under the constitutional assembly to consider releasing some prisoners, without providing details.

In the days following the election, Mr Maduro has expelled two top US diplomats from Venezuela, drawing an equal response from Washington. At the same time as Mr Maduro’s ceremony, US Charge d’affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission, Brian Naranjo, were flying out of the country. </s> CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Latest on the second-term inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (all times local):

The leader of Brazil's Workers' Party is under fire by some fellow leftists for attending the second-term inauguration of socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The criticism on Sen. Gleisi Hoffmann adds to divisions in Brazil's opposition in confronting new, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro is among the harshest of many critics of Maduro, whose election last year was widely considered undemocratic, even among many on the left. Bolsonaro calls him a dictator.

Hoffmann said in a letter she wants to counter Bolsonaro's aggressive rhetoric against Maduro, whose party had a close relationship with Brazil's Workers Party for years.

Several left-leaning politicians criticized the visit. Former presidential candidate Luciana Genro said: "Only a corroded left can support Maduro at this time." Writer Marcelo Rubens Paiva called it "a monstrous stupidity."

Paraguay's president says his country has broken diplomatic relations with Venezuela because it doesn't recognize the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's re-election.

The announcement came almost immediately after Maduro took the oath of office in Caracas.

Paraguay's Mario Abdo Benitez said his country is closing its embassy in Venezuela and immediately withdrawing its diplomats.

The Organization of American States has voted not to recognize the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has just taken the oath of office for a second six-year term.

The organization's Permanent Council took the vote in Washington, adopting a resolution presented by Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Paraguay and Peru.

Venezuela's Ambassador Samuel Moncada called the measure adopted Thursday "a hostile act ... against the will of our nation."

The vote was 19 in favor, eight abstentions and six against.

Many nations have denounced Maduro's recent re-election as profoundly unfair.

Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro has taken the oath of office for his second six-year term.

Thursday's swearing-in comes amid widespread international condemnation over allegations that his election was undemocratic.

In his remarks, Maduro vowed to continue the socialist revolution under way for two decades.

Maduro's popularity has plunged amid scarcities of basic goods, hyperinflation and rising authoritarianism that have sparked a mass emigration.

A the United States and a dozen Latin American countries reject Maduro's legitimacy, saying he rigged the election granting him another six-year term.

Presidents of Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua attended the inauguration to support Maduro.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is being sworn in to a second term Thursday amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis. But there will be some long-time friends in attendance both from abroad and at home.

A dozen Latin American governments and Canada have rejected the legitimacy of Maduro's next term, and Washington has sanctioned top officials in his government. But Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Bolivian President Evo Morales are coming to Caracas to show their support.

Maduro's popularity has plunged amid scarcities, hyperinflation and rising authoritarianism that have sparked a mass emigration. Still, supporters who receive government subsidies in shantytowns continue to back the man who took over for the late Hugo Chavez. </s> President Maduro is due to be inaugurated for a second term on Thursday ARIANA CUBILLOS/AP

A supreme court judge has fled Venezuela days before he was due to take part in the swearing-in of President Maduro for a second term of office.

“I’ve decided to leave Venezuela to disavow the government of Nicolás Maduro,” Christian Zerpa, a former loyalist to the president, told a TV station in Miami. Mr Zerpa was a congressman in the left-wing ruling party before he was fast-tracked to the position of judge in 2016.

The supreme court has rubber-stamped all Mr Maduro’s decisions since he took office in 2013. Mr Maduro is due to be inaugurated on Thursday.

Most Latin American governments, along with the European Union, the United States and Canada, have indicated that they will not consider him the legitimate president of Venezuela… </s> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for a second term amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for a second term amid international calls for him to step down and a devastating economic crisis.

Nicolas Maduro sworn in for second term as Venezuela’s president

Seventeen Latin American governments, the United States and Canada rejected the legitimacy of Mr Maduro’s next term in a measure adopted on Thursday.

Most countries from Europe and Latin American did not send representatives to the swearing-in.

But Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Bolivian President Evo Morales and President Anatoli Bibilov of a breakaway province of Georgia were among the few foreign leaders who attended the ceremony at the country’s Supreme Court.

In a speech after his swearing-in, Mr Maduro claimed 94 countries had sent representatives to his inauguration.

He vowed to continue the legacy of the late president Hugo Chavez and accused the United States of trying to ignite unrest through its increasing economic sanctions.

“Venezuela is the centre of a world war led by the North American imperialists and its allies,” said Mr Maduro, a former bus driver.

“They have tried to convert a normal inauguration into a world war.”

Mr Maduro’s second term extends Venezuela’s socialist revolution amid widespread complaints that he has stripped the country of its last vestiges of democracy.

Mr Maduro, 56, denies that he is a dictator and often blames President Donald Trump for leading an economic war against Venezuela that is destroying the country.

The Organisation of American States voted not to recognise Mr Maduro’s legitimacy, adopting a resolution presented by Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Paraguay and Peru.

The move was denounced by Venezuela’s ambassador to the OAS, Samuel Moncada, as “a hostile act … against the will of our nation”.

President Mario Abdo Benitez said his country “in the exercise of its constitutional powers and national sovereignty, adopts the decision to break diplomatic relations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the United States will keep up pressure in support of the Venezuelan people.

“It is time for Venezuelan leaders to make a choice,” Mr Pompeo said, urging Maduro supporters to be on the right side of history.

“Now is the time to convince the Maduro dictatorship that the moment has arrived for democracy to return to Venezuela.”

Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri also denounced Mr Maduro, saying he lacks the authenticity won through honest elections despite Thursday’s elaborate inauguration ceremony and any other “tricks”.

“Nicolas Maduro today is making a mockery of democracy”, Mr Macri said on Twitter.

“Venezuelans know it, the world knows it. Venezuela lives under a dictatorship.”

Oil-rich Venezuela was once among Latin America’s wealthiest nations.

It produced 3.5 million barrels of crude daily when Mr Chavez took power.

Output now has plummeted to less than a third of that.

Critics blame years of rampant corruption and mismanagement of the state-run oil firm PDVSA. </s> CARACAS, Venezuela -- Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as Venezuela's president-elect on Thursday, months before he's due to formally take the oath of office next year for a second term.

The inauguration-like pomp left many confused because Maduro's next six-year term doesn't begin until Jan. 10.

The ceremony came at a session of the pro-government constitutional assembly that has largely taken over powers of the opposition-led legislature.

In an address, Maduro defended Sunday's presidential election, calling it "free and "constitutional" despite being rejected as illegitimate by his leading challenger, the United States and a coalition of Latin American countries.

Official results showed Maduro topping his closest challenger, Henri Falcon, by 47 percentage points. Falcon rejected the vote and called for a new election, accusing Maduro of buying votes of the poor by offering prizes.

Maduro said he recognized troubles facing Venezuelans, yet vowed to press forward with the country's socialist policies, which have prompted crushing U.S. sanctions.

"I won't lie," Maduro said. "Those sanctions will bring serious difficulties, painful difficulties that we will confront head-on, overcome and defeat."

Oil-rich Venezuela was once among Latin American's wealthiest nations, but it has sunk into deep economic crisis under Maduro, who replaced his mentor, the late-President Hugo Chavez, in 2013.

In a gesture toward mending Venezuela's deep divides, Maduro called on a commission under the constitutional assembly to consider releasing some prisoners, without providing details.

In the days following the election, Maduro has expelled two top U.S. diplomats from Venezuela, drawing an equal response from Washington.

Maduro highlighted that at the same time as the ceremony, U.S. Charge D'affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission, Brian Naranjo, were flying out of the country.

Venezuela's opposition coalition blasted the swearing-in ceremony coming on the heels of what it considers a fraudulent election.

"Two illegitimacies don't cancel out each other," the coalition said in a statement, demanding Maduro's government respect Venezuela's constitution and its people.
Nicolás Maduro is sworn in for his second term as President of Venezuela amid widespread condemnation over his election as "illegitimate".