In pictures: Venezuelans choose Hugo Chavez successor

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Venezuelans line up to vote in Caracas for a successor to late President Hugo Chavez
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Venezuelans have been queuing since the early hours of Sunday to cast their vote in elections to find a successor to the late President, Hugo Chavez.

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Security is reported to be tight at polling stations across the Latin American country, with ballots being cast in an atmosphere of calm.

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Voters must choose between Nicolas Maduro, named by the late president as his preferred successor, and Henrique Capriles, who narrowly lost to Mr Chavez in elections last year.

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Almost 19 million Venezuelans have the right to vote.

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Voting is electronic - one machine will identify voters' fingerprints, and a second will recognise identity card numbers and register the vote anonymously.

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Emotions are said to be high in this election - the first in almost two decades in which Hugo Chavez's name has not appeared on the ballots.