Maduro's contested win creates uncertainty for Venezuela

CARACAS (Reuters) - Late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro, won Venezuela's presidential election by a whisker but now faces opposition protests plus a host of economic and political challenges in the OPEC nation.

The 50-year-old former bus driver, whom Chavez named as his preferred heir before dying of cancer, edged out opposition challenger Henrique Capriles with 50.7 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, according to election board returns.