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By Jeff Mason and Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday expressed concern about the threat of violence in Venezuela's election on Sunday and warned President Nicolas Maduro of the need to hold a fair vote free of political repression or intimidation.
Venezuelans will go to the polls in a presidential election, with Maduro seeking his third term as leader of the OPEC member-state. His challenger, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, has attracted significant support.
"We support peaceful elections that we expect and hope will come on Sunday," White House spokesperson John Kirby told a regular briefing in Washington. "Any political repression and violence is unacceptable."
Asked whether Maduro had the ability to rig the election result, Kirby said it was hard to know how the situation would play out but that the U.S. wanted "to make it clear to Mr. Maduro that we're watching."
The opposition and some independent observers have questioned whether the vote will be fair, saying decisions by electoral authorities and the arrests of some opposition campaign staff are meant to create obstacles.
Gonzalez inherited the opposition mantle from Maria Corina Machado, who enjoys wide popularity and won the opposition primary but was barred from holding public office.
Maduro, a Socialist whose 2018 reelection was rejected by most Western governments as a sham, has said Venezuela has the world's most transparent electoral system.
The U.S. reimposed oil sanctions in April, accusing Maduro of reneging on deals reached with the opposition to ensure democratic elections.
Asked whether the U.S. was concerned that violence might break out if the opposition wins, Kirby said, "If we weren't concerned about the possibility, I wouldn't have mentioned it in the opening statement" that he delivered at the White House briefing.
"Regardless of who wins, we encourage both candidates to commit to a peaceful outcome," Kirby said.
(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Jeff Mason; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Mark Porter and Rosalba O'Brien)
