Hello and welcome to Newsar from the BBC World Service.

Coming to you live from our studios in central London.

I'm Julian Marshall.

Nicholas Maduro, whose nearly 12 years in office have been marked by economic collapse,

political repression and mass emigration,

was sworn in earlier today for a third term as Venezuela's president.

The opposition say they won last year's election and have the evidence to prove it,

while the United States and the European Union are among those

who recognize the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, as

president-elect. Russia, China, Iran and Cuba, though are backing Mr. Maduro, and his supporters

turned out as Mr. Maduro took the oath of office during a ceremony in the capital Caracas.

I swear, by the historic, noble and brave people of Venezuela before this constitution,

that I will fulfill all its mandates, that I will fulfill all the obligations of the

constitution and the laws of the Republic,

and that this new presidential term will be the period of peace, prosperity, equality, and the new democracy.

I swear by history. I swear by my life, and I will fulfill it.

With the opposition candidate at Mundo Gonzalez,

who promised to return to Venezuela ahead of the inauguration,

despite the threat of arrest,

has been on a tour of sympathetic Latin American countries

and the United States canvassing for more support.

Most recently he's been in the Dominican Republic

...