WASHINGTON, Feb 17: The Obama administration says the referendum that cleared the way for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election was democratic. It was rare praise for a US antagonist after years of criticism from the Bush administration.

U.S. State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid noted “troubling reports of intimidation.” But he added on Tuesday that “for the most part this was a process that was fully consistent with democratic process.”

Chavez captured more than 54 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary tallies of 94 per cent of results. The win allows him to run for a third term.

Asked whether that was a result the United States welcomes, Duguid said the issue “was a matter for the Venezuelan people.”—AP