The information gathered by an electoral team he led "coincided with the partial returns announced today by the National Elections Council," said Former US President Jimmy Carter Carter in news conference on Aug. 17, 2004.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    CARACAS, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Former US President Jimmy Carter and the head of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday backed the results of Venezuela's recall referendum that President Hugo Chavez won.

    The information gathered by an electoral team he led "coincided with the partial returns announced today by the National Elections Council," said Carter, one of the top election observers, in a joint news conference with OAS Secretary-General Cesar Gaviria.

    The announcement appeared to deflate opposition claims of widespread fraud in the voting that began Sunday and ended early Monday.

    The National Elections Council earlier announced its tally with94 percent of the vote counted, showing Chavez surviving by a widemargin the opposition's effort to unseat him.

    The opposition, meanwhile, denounced the official results, which gave 58 percent vote to Chavez, as fraudulent.

    Opposition leader also called for a massive protest later Monday in Caracas. Enditem