Venezuela’s Supreme Court certifies Maduro’s claims he won presidential election

Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodriguez speaks at the court which is performing an audit of the disputed results of the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has backed President Nicolas Maduro’s claims that he won last month’s presidential election and said voting tallies published online showing he lost by a landslide were forged.

The ruling is the latest attempt by Mr Maduro to blunt protests and international criticism that erupted after the contested July 28 vote in which the self-proclaimed socialist leader was seeking a third six-year term.