Venezuelans approve referendum to claim sovereignty over area of Guyana

President Nicolas Maduro speaks to pro-government supporters after a referendum regarding Venezuela’s claim to a region administered and controlled by Guyana (Matias Delacroix/AP)

Venezuelans have approved a referendum called by the government of president Nicolas Maduro to claim sovereignty over an oil- and mineral-rich area of neighbouring Guyana.

The Venezuelan government argues the territory was stolen when the border was drawn more than a century ago.