Venezuela on Saturday closed the border with Colombia and other neighbors ahead of the country’s presidential election Sunday.
The country’s Interior and Justice Minister Tareck Al Aissami announced the closing of the borders on Saturday and said check points would reopen Sunday at midnight.
En Gaceta Oficial No. 6086, se dicta RESTRICCIÓN TOTAL para el desplazamiento de personas y vehículos por las fronteras de VENEZUELA.
— Tareck El Aissami (@TareckPSUV) October 6, 2012
According to Colombian radio station Caracol, more than 1,000 soldiers were sent to the 1,300-mile border with Colombia to ensure nobody would enter or leave Venezuela on the tense election day.
Caracol reported that Colombian citizens from the border region, whose local economy is strongly connected to that of Venezuela, were crossing the border away from the checkpoints.
Venezuela on Sunday took to the polls decide to whether President Hugo Chavez is allowed to extend his 14-year old reign or opposition candidate Henrique Capriles may assume the presidency.
