Venezuela's Maduro calls for high turnout rate in elections

Venezuela's Acting President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday called on all the citizens to vote in Sunday's presidential elections, expressing the hope that high turnout rate will be recorded. "We believe we will break the record of turnout," Maduro said during his meeting at the Presidential Miraflores Palace in Caracas with international observers who are in the country to monitor the polls. Maduro noted that the presidential elections on Oct. 7, in which late President Hugo Chavez obtained the victory, had a turnout of more than 80 percent. Venezuelans are "heroic, conscious and cultivated" people, Maduro said, highlighting the increasing participation of people in the local and general elections that have taken place in Venezuela since Chavez came to power in 1999. Maduro also said he will respect the results. "That is to be fully complied. I signed a document drafted by the National Electoral Council where I pledged to abide by the results." He also urged opposition groups to avoid falling into the provocations from foreign countries to generate violence. "A sector of the opposition is playing on the credulity so that tomorrow or Monday they will take to the streets to generate violence and death. I request respect and peace," he said. More than 18.9 million registered voters are eligible to participate in the election to choose a new president after the passing of Chavez in March. More than 3,000 national observers and 240 international observers will monitor the elections this year.