Obama reportedly overjoyed.

(BBC) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has won a fourth term in office after defeating opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Mr Chavez won 54% of the vote, the country’s electoral council announced.

Noisy celebrations among Chavez supporters erupted across the capital Caracas following the result.

Turnout was more than 80% and voting was extended beyond the official closing time at some polling stations which still had long queues.

Electoral council president Tibisay Lucena announced that with 90% of votes counted Mr Chavez had taken 54.42% of the vote with Mr Capriles on 44.97%.

“The revolution has triumphed,” President Chavez told a cheering crowd from the balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.