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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and US counterpart Joe Biden called on Tuesday for full results of the Venezuelan election to be published, with the Brazilian leader terming a dispute over results 鈥榥ormal.鈥�

鈥楲ula reiterated that the publication of the electoral records of last Sunday鈥檚 elections is fundamental. Biden agreed with the importance of disclosing the records,鈥� the Brazilian presidency said in a statement after the two leaders spoke in a call.


In a statement, the White House confirmed the conversation and 鈥榯he need for immediate release of full, transparent, and detailed voting data at the polling station level by the Venezuelan electoral authorities.鈥�

Speaking to a TV Globo affiliate in an interview released Tuesday, Lula appeared to downplay the dispute over the election result, which has seen thousands take to the streets and at least 11 people killed.

鈥業t is normal that there is a dispute,鈥� Lula said in the interview, adding it could be 鈥榬esolved鈥� by releasing polling-station-level voting data, known in Spanish as 鈥榓ctas.鈥�

鈥業f the actas raise doubts... the opposition enters an appeal,鈥� he said, adding that the courts鈥� decision would ultimately be something 鈥榳e have to abide by.鈥�

鈥業 am convinced that it is a normal, calm process,鈥� he said. 鈥楾here is nothing serious, there is nothing to be afraid of.鈥�

On Tuesday, thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets for a peaceful show of support for the opposition, a day after 11 people died and dozens were wounded in protests against Maduro.

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition鈥檚 candidate in the poll, urged the government not to repress the protests.

Lula said that people had 鈥榯he right to express themselves鈥� and that the government had 鈥榯he right to prove that it is right.鈥�

鈥楶resident Maduro knows perfectly well that the more transparency there is, the more chances he has to have peace of mind to govern,鈥� Lula said.

Lula also called for 鈥榩utting an end to external interference in other countries.鈥�

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday the results of Venezuela鈥檚 election cannot be recognised until voting records are verified and made public.

International calls have mounted for a detailed vote breakdown since incumbent Nicolas Maduro鈥檚 disputed victory in Sunday鈥檚 presidential election.

鈥榃e ask to be provided with immediate access to the voting records of polling stations,鈥� he told reporters during a trip to Vietnam.

鈥楿ntil the records are made public and verified, election results that have already been declared cannot be recognised.鈥�