Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro - Chavez's choice - wins in a razor-close election to succeed late president

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan electoral officials say voters elected Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor as president in a razor-close special election Sunday.

Winner Nicolas Maduro campaigned on a promise to carry on Chavez's self-styled socialist revolution and defeated a two-time challenger who claimed the late president's regime has put Venezuela on the road to ruin.

Officials say Maduro defeated Henrique Capriles by only about 300,000 votes. The margin was 50.8 percent to 49.1 percent.

Maduro backers celebrated with fireworks over Caracas on Sunday while opposition backers banged pots and pans in protest after a nail-biting vote win for Hugo Chavez's protege.

The contrasting reactions underlined the deep polarization in the South American nation of 29 million people.

Read more: Venezuelans elect Nicolas Maduro, Chavez's choice, to succeed late president - World News