Nicolas Maduro Elected Venezuela President

Venezuelan electoral officials say voters have narrowly elected Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor as president in a close battle.

Winner Nicolas Maduro campaigned on a promise to carry on Mr Chavez's self-styled socialist revolution, and defeated a two-time challenger who claimed the late president's regime has put Venezuela on the road to ruin.

Officials say Mr Maduro, former acting president, defeated Henrique Capriles by just 300,000 votes. The margin was 50.8% to 49.1%.

Speaking from Caracas, Venezuelan journalist Virginia Lopez told Sky News: "I think this has caught the whole country by a surprise.

"We got used to Chavez winning by handsome margins so to have an election won on a matter of 300,000 votes is quite incredible."

Addressing a crowd from the presidential palace, Mr Maduro called his victory further proof that Mr Chavez "continues to be invincible, that he continues to win battles".

He said that Mr Capriles had called him before the results were announced to suggest a "pact" and that Mr Maduro refused.

There was no immediate word from Capriles.

Turnout was 78%, down from just over 80% in the October election that Mr Chavez won by a nearly 11-point margin.

National Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena told a news conference: "These are the irreversible results that the people have decided."

Hugo Chavez had named Mr Maduro as his political heir

Mr Maduro, a longtime foreign minister to Mr Chavez, rode a wave of grief for the late leader, who ruled Venezuela for 14 years with a socialist revolution that made him popular among the poor while disenchanting others fed up with the weak economy.

Mr Maduro has vowed to continue the oil-funded policies that cut poverty by almost half to 29% through popular health, education and food programmes.

But he also inherits a litany of problems left behind by his mentor: South America's highest murder rate, with 16,000 people killed last year, chronic food shortages, high inflation and recurring power outages.

Opinion polls had given Mr Maduro leads of 10 to 20 points during the campaign, but Mr Capriles - who lost to Mr Chavez by 11 points in October polls - energised the opposition in his second shot at the presidency.

Hundreds of people began to celebrate in front of the Miraflores presidential palace well before the results were announced, launching fireworks, dancing and holding pictures of Mr Maduro and Mr Chavez.

"This is a very important victory for the future of the country. This is the legacy of our comandante, who is no longer here. But he left us Maduro and he will defend his project," said voter Rafael Perez Camarero.

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Practice Run For Thatcher Funeral Procession

A full military rehearsal for Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession has taken place this morning after the Government defended plans for Wednesday's lavish ceremonial service.

The procession, timed to last 19 minutes, will involve more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel  and see Lady Thatcher's coffin carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage from St Clement Danes, the church of the Royal Air Force, down the Strand on Wednesday morning.

Led by the Band of the Royal Marines, the solemn procession will then slowly travel along Fleet Street towards St Paul's where around 2,000 mourners are expected to attend the service.

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's.

Downing Street has refused to give details about the cost until after the ceremony but it is expected to run into several million.

The rehearal came after a poll by ComRes found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who is one of the organisers of the service, insisted it had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady".

He told Sky News on Sunday that the ceremony would be a "fitting send-off" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

Speaking on the Murnaghan show, he said: "Of course, with any funeral of any former prime minister the state inevitably plays a big role.

"Normally there would be a funeral followed by a memorial service. She was very adamant that she didn't want that, she wanted a single service. So this needs to be a fitting event for a very great lady."

Amid fears protests could mar the funeral next week, Mr Maude also urged critics of Lady Thatcher to be respectful.

"It is a free country. People must be free to express their views," he said, but added: "I would simply ask that they respect the wishes of the mourners for this event to take place in a dignified way."

George Galloway will attempt to block PMQs delay so MPs can attend funeral

Meanwhile, Respect MP George Galloway will attempt to scupper plans to cancel Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions so that MPs can attend the funeral.

He has said he will try to block a Government motion dropping Commons questions and delaying the start of business to 2.30pm, after the funeral has taken place.

Ministers had hoped the motion, tabled by the Leader of the House Andrew Lansley, would go through "on the nod" at the end of Commons business tonight.

Last night, police charged a series of demonstrators at London's Trafalgar Square who were protesting against Baroness Thatcher's legacy and who marked her death with a party.

Scotland Yard said nine suspects had been charged with various offences including assaulting police, affray and drunk and disorderly, and would appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on various dates in the next few weeks.

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Millwall Fighting: Arrests After Fans Clash

Ten people have been arrested after violence broke out among Millwall fans during the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan.

During the second half of their 2-0 loss to Wigan on Saturday, around 20 Millwall fans began fighting with each other behind the goal at Wembley Stadium.

The disturbing scenes, which were witnessed by millions on television, left some fans bloodied and youngsters in tears.

Skirmishes began towards the end of the game

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Ten people have been arrested following sporadic disorder among fans in the Millwall supporters' area at Wembley.

"Investigations into the circumstances of the incidents are continuing."

Some fans were left bloodied by the violence

Alex Horne, general secretary of the FA, said: "The Metropolitan Police and the FA are investigating scenes of sporadic violence and disorder in the Millwall FC end at the FA Cup semi-final.

"The FA and Wembley Stadium will work with police and representatives of Millwall FC to review all events.

Millwall promised to ban those involved

"We will look to ensure those involved are identified and we would call for criminal charges and a football banning order to be brought against them.

"The FA deplores the scenes which have taken place, which are unacceptable. Everything will be done to take action against those involved."

Millwall have long had an unwanted reputation for hooliganism and Saturday's scenes were a throwback to the 1980s.

It is unclear what sparked the clashes

The club's chief executive Andy Ambler said it would do all it could to find those responsible.

"Our position is clear. Anyone associated with our club found guilty of violent behaviour will be banned indefinitely from Millwall matches in addition to any punishment they receive from the authorities," he said.

"Having worked so hard to show the positive side of our club both on and off the field, we cannot allow the actions of a mindless minority to undermine that.

The match ended 2-0 to Wigan Athletic

"At this stage we are still in the process of establishing the full details of what happened in a section of the ground during the second half.

"When we have those facts at our disposal and the police have completed their investigations we may be in a position to comment further." 

Millwall chairman John Berylson, who flew in from the United States for the game, said: "There are always a few idiots. That's not our fan-base and we don't even know who those people are. We will be investigating."

Police moved in after the violence started

And the team's captain Danny Shittu added: "Today was meant to be a good day out at Wembley. I'm disappointed by it.

"It's sad to hear about these things happening on a day like today. Things like that shouldn't be going on, It should be a great day for both sides."

Wigan's chairman Dave Whelan, whose team will face Manchester City or Chelsea in the final next month, said he was appalled by what he saw.

Millwall fans were condemned for the fighting

"I can't understand why the Millwall fans would fight each other," he told the BBC.

"I understand if they want to fall out with the visiting team, but why would they fall out amongst themselves? It just gives football a very, very poor reputation."

"We know Millwall are a tough club, their team's tough to play, the supporters are Millwall Millwall Millwall... straight through. But don't fight each other."

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Thatcher Funeral: Most Brits Oppose Paying

As Downing Streets announces lavish plans for Baroness Thatcher's funeral, it is revealed that more than half the British public do not think taxpayers should have to pay for the service.

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, Wednesday's service is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's, bringing to the fore the issue of who will pay.

While her estate will make a contribution, Downing Street has refused to give details about how much the service will cost the taxpayer, saying this will be revealed after the funeral.

But a ComRes survey for the Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror has found that only 25% of people think it should be funded by the public purse - compared to 60% who are against the idea.

The survey also showed that one in three people think she was Britain's greatest peacetime prime minister - although 41% of people disagreed.

Lady Thatcher at a Royal Hospital Chelsea event in 2008

Foreign Secretary William Hague last week defended the funeral costs, amid anger over taxpayers footing bill for recalling Parliament so tributes could be paid to Lady Thatcher.  

"The rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75 billion - which is twice the size of our annual defence budget," he said.

"I think that puts money in perspective ... so I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral."

The poll comes as the Government released the Order of Service for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, allowing the public to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes by. 

David Cameron will do a Bible reading at the funeral

It is the same honour bestowed on Diana, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.

Then there will be a single bell will toll as the funeral cortege draws up to St Paul's, and 14 Chelsea pensioners will line the steps as the coffin is taken into the cathedral.

The presence of the pensioners - the oldest aged 90 - is aimed at reflecting the strong connection Lady Thatcher built up with the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the last 10 years.

In front of the coffin, Michael and Amanda Thatcher, grandchildren of the former prime minister, will carry cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit and lay them on the Dome Altar.

The service, attended by the Queen, will be "framed" by British music, with traditional pieces by great British composers played at the beginning and at the end.

Lady Thatcher's love of poetry will be reflected in her choice of TS Eliot's Little Gidding, which will be printed on the opening page of the Order of Service and William Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality on the final page.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Amanda Thatcher will deliver the readings from the King James Bible - of which she was particularly fond.

It was confirmed that the hymns will be He Who Would Valiant Be, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Psalm 84 set to the music of Johannes Brahms, and the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country.

The funeral address will be delivered by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The military procession leading to the service will feature more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel from units particularly associated with the Falklands War, including some from the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

:: ComRes interviewed 2,012 Great Britain adults online on April 10 and 11.

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Four Missing In House Fire In East London

Four people are missing and two men have been taken to hospital after a house fire in east London, emergency services have said.

Fire crews tackled the blaze on Romford Road in Forest Gate in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The roof was destroyed in the fire and a large part of the ground and first floors of the property were damaged.

The building is believed to have been disused.

Firefighters rescued a man from the roof of the building and another man escaped before the fire brigade arrived.

Both men were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

Fire station manager Daniel Alie, who was at the scene, said: "The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed.

"Crews rescued a man from the rear of the house using a ladder. Both men have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

"Our fire investigation unit is now working to find out what caused the blaze."

Eight fire engines from Leytonstone, East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford, and Bow fire stations attended the call, which was received at 3.09am.

There were around 60 firefighters and officers at the scene, and equipment included an aerial ladder platform and fire rescue unit.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Measles: Fresh Plea After Increase In Cases

The Government has hit back at claims it is to blame for the latest measles outbreak - now the largest the UK has seen for more than a decade.

Andrew Wakefield, the former doctor who caused the MMR scare 15 years ago by linking the vaccine with autism, said ministers were putting the importance of their  vaccination programme above the welfare of children.

He told The Independent that the "British Government is entirely culpable" for the outbreak and accused ministers of "putting price before children's health".

But a Department for Health spokesman refuted his claims, insisting that "Dr Andrew Wakefield's claims are completely incorrect".

"Immunisation advice from the Department has always kept the interests of patients paramount. Measles is a highly infectious and harmful disease," he added.

"If your child has not had two doses of MMR, whatever their age, we urge you to contact your GP surgery and make an appointment."

It comes as more emergency measles clinics are being opened this weekend after the number of reported cases across the UK has risen to more than 970.

The outbreak is the biggest the UK has seen for more than 10 years, exceeding the 622 cases recorded in Merseyside in 2012.

Health officials have confirmed 693 cases in South Wales, 210 in the northeast England and 75 in Gloucestershire.

Disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield blames the Government for the outbreak

They have warned the outbreak is unlikely to peak for "two to three" weeks because of the incubation period for the disease, and fear it could spread further when children go back to school on Monday following the Easter break.

The escalation in cases has prompted health bosses to renew their plea for unvaccinated people to get their MMR jabs immediately.

Marion Lyons, director health protection at Public Health Wales, said at least 6,000 children remain unvaccinated in the south west Wales county.

"With measles cases at almost 700, with 73 of those reported in the last two days alone, we remain extremely concerned that this outbreak is showing no signs of going away," she said.

"We are delighted to see parents starting to arrange vaccination for their children but the numbers simply aren't high enough to bring the outbreak under control when 6,000 children remain at risk from measles in the Swansea area alone."

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complications. These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

The latest round of emergency vaccination sessions will be held between 10am and 4pm at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals, as well as The Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend and the Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

More information about the sessions can be found at Public Health Wales.

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Leeds Hospital Victim's Mother Wants Answers

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

The mother of a young girl who died following heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary has said she wants to know how and why her daughter died.

Siobhan Casey, from Rossington near Doncaster, has written to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with a list of 27 issues that she wants them to address following the death of her four-year-old daughter Mylee.

Mylee had surgery to remove a build up of muscle on her heart that was restricting blood flow on March 15. Several hours after the four-hour operation, Mylee began to show stroke-like symptoms of stiffness down one side of her body.

Her mother said she wasn't informed straight away, and there was a gap of 13 hours between the symptoms being noticed and Mylee being given a CT scan.

The scan showed two areas of brain damage, prompting doctors to perform emergency surgery to remove blood clots. The next day an MRI scan showed more extensive brain damage, and on March 21, Mylee died.

"I want answers to why it happened," said Ms Casey. "Answers to why she wasn't treated more effectively and quicker than she was."

Four-year-old Mylee Casey died on March 21

She also claims that staff on the unit were discourteous, unsympathetic and not fully trained in treating head injuries.

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust told Sky News it cannot discuss the clinical details of individual cases, but did issue a statement, saying: "We extend our deepest sympathy to Mylee's family and have been speaking to her mother about the family's concerns and have arranged a meeting with her next week to discuss these further. In such circumstances families understandably want to ask many questions and we will do everything possible to help."

Two weeks ago operations in the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary were suspended by NHS England when figures suggested the unit had an uncommonly high death rate.

That data was later found to be flawed, and surgery partially resumed earlier this week.

NHS England have apologised for any inconvenience the decision to suspend surgery may have caused, but not for making the decision.

Earlier this week, the deputy director of medical services for NHS England, Mike Bewick, said the unit had been investigated in detail during the 11-day period that surgery was suspended for.

Mylee's mother, Siobhan Casey, says she is still waiting for answers

He said that investigation had shown that "it was obvious that the unit is completely safe".

The unit is still under scrutiny by NHS England, which will now look into the hospital's handling of data, and into the way they deal with patient complaints. There will also be a review of patient case notes for the past three years.

Campaigners recently succeeded in their bid to have the High Court quash part of a review into children's cardiac surgeries in England that had initially earmarked the Leeds unit for closure. That would mean hundreds of patients would have to be treated in Newcastle, Birmingham or Liverpool.

The judge in the case ruled that the consultation process which led to the NHS deciding which units to close was legally flawed and unfair.

Some of the campaigners maintain that the suspension of surgery just 24 hours after the ruling was a political move deliberately aimed at undermining the credibility of the unit.

They are now calling for a full investigation into the NHS's decision.

Child surgery lawyer Laurence Vick told Sky News: "The families do need to know that their concerns are being addressed and so far their worries are that they haven't been and all the attention has been on the successful outcomes rather than the unsuccessful ones.

"They feel like they are the forgotten families in all of this."

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North Korea Nuclear Missile Test 'Imminent'

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in the South Korean capital Seoul today as tension mounts over a possible missile test by North Korea.

The crisis on the Korean peninsula is bound to dominate talks between Mr Kerry and his South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

Intelligence reports from the Japanese, South Koreans and Americans indicate that a North Korean missile test might be imminent, though there has been silence from the leadership in Pyongyang.

The focus in the North Korean capital has been on a weekend of celebrations to mark a year in office for Kim Jong Un, which fell yesterday, and the anniversary of Mr Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Song, the founder of the nation.

"On the agenda for their talks would be the topics related to the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, how to cope with North Korea's threats and how to deter the North's provocations," foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said.

The level of rhetoric to emerge from North Korea is unprecedented.

A US agency believes that Kim Jong Un does have nuclear weapons

Over several weeks, the regime has declared itself to be in a "state of war" with the South, announced that a mothballed nuclear site is to be reopened and threatened to carry out nuclear attacks against the US.

Mr Kerry arrives in the region as confusion surfaced in Washington over the true status of North Korea's nuclear capability.

The broad consensus is that while Kim Jong Un does poses nuclear devices and has crossed the "nuclear threshold", he does not have the capability to launch a nuclear missile.

However, at a congressional hearing on Thursday night, it emerged that one US government agency believes that Kim Jong Un does have nuclear weapons which could be placed inside a ballistic missile and fired. 

"[The] Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) assesses with moderate confidence the North currently has nuclear weapons capable of delivery by ballistic missiles, however the reliability will be low," said Republican US Representative Doug Lamborn, quoting from a March 2013 DIA report which was inadvertently labelled "unclassified".

North Korea is celebrating a year in office for Kim Jong Un

The Pentagon was quick to issue a written clarification on the matter.

"In today's House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defence budget, a member of the committee read an unclassified passage in a classified report on North Korea's nuclear capabilities," Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

"While I cannot speak to all the details of a report that is classified in its entirety, it would be inaccurate to suggest that the North Korean regime has fully tested, developed, or demonstrated the kinds of nuclear capabilities referenced in the passage."

North Korea has said that it does possess advanced nuclear devices.

This whole crisis stems from Pyongyang's desire to pursue a nuclear programme which it says it needs to defend itself from "American aggression".

By manufacturing this crisis, Kim Jong Un is likely to be demonstrating strength domestically and thus bolstering his legitimacy.

Internationally, he is determined that his country is taken seriously as as a nuclear power.

He would want an acceptance from the Americans that he is part of the 'nuclear club' as a pretext to any negotiations to end this crisis. 

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Homeless Fears For Millions Without Savings

One-in-three people would struggle to pay their rent or mortgage within a month of losing their job, a charity has warned.

Some 35% of workers - around 8.6 million people - do not have enough money put aside to meet their housing needs beyond four weeks, a YouGov poll for Shelter found.

Around a fifth of Britons - roughly 4.4 million people - would be at risk of becoming homeless immediately.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: "These figures paint an alarming picture of a nation where the buffer between having a home and potentially becoming homeless is a single pay cheque.

"Millions are living on the edge of a crisis, only secure in their homes for a matter of weeks.

"At the same time, support for people who have lost their homes is being stripped away.

"It's easy to see why every 15 minutes, another family in England finds themselves homeless."

The survey of 2,000 people found families with children would fare even worse in the event of redundancy.

Around two-in-five parents said they could not afford to pay for their home for more than a month, while a quarter said they could not meet their payments at all.

The Department for Communities and Local Government pointed to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which show repossessions are at a five-year low and falling.

However, a spokesman added: "We are not complacent and would urge anyone facing financial difficulties to seek early help to avoid losing their home.

"We have one of the strongest safety nets in the world against homelessness, bolstered by £470m Government cash and extra flexibility for councils to help those in need.

"We've also put help in place, including the extended £221m Mortgage Rescue Scheme and funding for organisations including Shelter, to provide information and advice services."

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Welfare Cuts 'Will Widen North-South Divide'

People living in northern England will be hardest hit by the Government's welfare reforms, which will take nearly £19bn out of the economy every year.

Researchers say adults in Blackpool will lose an average of £910 a year each - more than anywhere else in Britain - because of changes to Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Child Benefit, as well as Tax Credit and Council Tax Benefit.

Former industrial areas including Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Glasgow will also be disproportionately affected.

However, wealthier areas, such as Cambridge, parts of Surrey and the Cotswolds, are expected to see the smallest financial losses.

Cambridge will be among the places least affected, researchers say

Westminster, with its high cost of living, will be the worst-affected London borough, with the average adult losing £820 in annual benefits.

Professor Steve Fothergill, of Sheffield Hallam's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, which led the study, said: "A key effect of the welfare reforms will be to widen the gaps in prosperity between the best and worst local economies across Britain.

"Our figures also show the coalition Government is presiding over national welfare reforms that will impact principally on individuals and communities outside its own political heartlands."

Professor Fothergill found that, on the whole, the more deprived the local authority, the greater the financial impact.

Former industrial towns such as Middlesbrough are likely to feel the pinch

Collectively, the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside stand to lose £5.2bn a year in benefit income.

However, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Around nine out of 10 working households will be better off by, on average, almost £300 a year as a result of changes to the tax and welfare system this month.

"Raising the personal allowance to £10,000, we will have lifted 2.7 million people out of income tax since 2010.

"Our welfare reforms, including reassessing people on incapacity benefit, will help people back into work, which will benefit the economy more than simply abandoning them to claim benefits year after year.

"These changes are essential to keep the benefits bill sustainable, so that we can continue to support people when they need it most across the UK."

Changes to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Disability Living Allowance have already been made.

A benefit cap of £500 per week for a family and £350 for a single person will be introduced on April 15, while Universal Credit, which replaces a number of means-tested benefits, will be rolled out from October.

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