Venezuelans turn out in record numbers to cast their vote on the latest attempt by their country's political establishment (and its international backers) to oust their President: Venezuela's election authorities struggled to retain control of the country's controversial recall poll yesterday in the face of a massive turnout and delays caused by new technology and absent polling staff. Around 80% of the country's 14 million registered voters took part in the referendum to decide whether to recall the president, Hugo Chávez. By midday both sides were privately claiming victory, but a decision to keep polling stations open for an extra four hours meant an official announcement was not expected until the morning. Mr Chávez will step down immediately and new elections will be held within 30 days if those who answer yes in the referendum gain more votes than he won when he was elected in 1998, and also win a majority on the day. If the no votes gain the majority, Mr Chávez has promised he will invite his opponents to lunch at the presidential palace. Shortly before 3pm the president of the national election council, Francisco Carrasquero, appeared on television to play a faked recording of his own voice announcing that Mr Chávez had been defeated and was stepping down with immediate effect. Calling the recording a "flagrant crime" which "pretends to make fun of the will of the people", he announced the launch of an investigation. The investigation did not take long: it emerged that the recording is a popular spoof sold at street markets. The discovery did little for the credibility of the electoral council.