Venezuela election official offers confusing prognosis for audit

In this photo released by the Miraflores Press Office, President-elect Nicolas Maduro waves to supporters as he arrives to the National Assembly for his swearing-in ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 19, 2013. The opposition boycotted the ceremony, hoping that the ruling party's last-minute decision to allow an audit of nearly half the vote could change the result in a the bitterly disputed presidential election. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office) (The Associated Press)

Soldiers march during a military parade after the inauguration ceremony for newly sworn-in President Nicolas Maduro along the Paseo Los Proceres, or "Promenade of the Forefathers," in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 19, 2013. The announcement of the audit of Sunday's presidential election by the government-controlled National Electoral Council was a surprise reversal for a government that insisted all week that there would be no review of the vote and took a hard line against the opposition. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (The Associated Press)

A top official from Venezuela's electoral council says the audit of the vote from last Sunday's presidential election isn't about "revising" the outcome and warned against "false expectations."

Council Vice President Sandra Oblitas also said, however, that only the Supreme Court can change the outcome.

Her confusing appearance Saturday suggested difficulties ahead for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. He claims the election was stolen by Hugo Chavez's chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro.

An audit of the 46 percent of the vote not scrutinized on election night is to begin next week. Official results gave Maduro a 260,000-vote victory of 14.9 million votes cast.

Inaugurated Friday, Maduro spent much of Saturday with the presidents of Nicaragua and Cuba. He tweeted that he discussed plans for the nation's future with them.