CARACAS, Oct 8: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shrugged off cancer and a unified opposition to triumph yet again at the ballot box and claim another six-year mandate to pursue his oil-funded ‘socialist revolution’.

Sunday proved a sterner test than previous elections in Chavez’s 14-year tenure but the bombastic anti-American leftist emerged victorious again despite health scares, growing discontent and a strong opposition challenge.

With nearly all the votes counted, Chavez had 7,731,972, or 54.66 per cent, compared to 6,327,429, or 44.73 per cent, for his youthful opponent, former Miranda state governor Henrique Capriles.

Thousands of people massed in front of the Miraflores presidential palace following the results of Sunday’s election giving Chavez a clear victory after almost 14 years in power. —AFP