Crowds surge around acting President Nicolas Maduro on his last day of campaigning in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Maduro is hoping to permanently replace late President Hugo Chavez by winning the April 14 elections.

Football legend Diego Maradona lends his support to the man who calls himself Chavez's "first apostle."

Supporters of opposition leader Henrique Capriles choked the streets in the nearby city of Barquisimeto, as he rallied support on a platform of cutting crime - a top concern for Venezuelans.

The United Nations says Venezuela has the fourth highest murder rate in the world.

Capriles' home state of Miranda has been particularly hard hit.

Both candidates are making crime prevention a top priority.

Over 300,000 weapons have been seized and destroyed by the government since 2003.

Most opinion polls give Maduro a strong lead thanks to Chavez's endorsement and the wave of grief and sympathy over his death from cancer last month