Polls open in Venezuela election boycotted by opposition

Polling stations across Venezuela opened Sunday for a presidential election boycotted by the opposition in which President Nicolas Maduro is expected to be easily reelected.

Maduro, the political heir to the late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, is expected to defeat Henri Falcon, a former army officer who failed to gain the endorsement of the main opposition leaders, and evangelical candidate Javier Bertucci.

Polls opened at 6 am (1000 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 6 pm (2200 GMT).

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