Venezuela's National Electoral Council formally declared incumbent, NICOLAS MADURO to be the winner of the country's disputed presidential election, officially securing a third six-year term with 51 per cent of the vote.

But opponents as well as a regional and global leaders expressed doubts over the validity of the vote count.

The United States Secretary of State, ANTONY BLINKEN said Washington has serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.