Caracas , Venezuela ( CNN ) -- The sounds of clanking pots and pans and bursting fireworks rang out in Caracas on Tuesday night as tensions mounted over Venezuela 's tight election results . It was a clear sign that days after Sunday 's presidential vote , fierce political battles are far from over in the deeply divided country . Supporters of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski banged pots and pans to protest the government 's refusal to recount the votes , while supporters of President-elect Nicolas Maduro set off fireworks to celebrate his victory and drown out the noise . Maduro , former President Hugo Chavez 's handpicked successor , is scheduled to be sworn in on Friday . Election authorities proclaimed him president-elect on Monday despite Capriles ' demand for a recount . On Tuesday , Venezuela 's top prosecutor said at least seven people had been killed and 61 had been injured in post-election violence across the country . And the state-run AVN news agency reported that authorities had arrested 135 people in connection with political violence . The government news agency tied the deaths to opposition protests and said the victims were all followers of Maduro . Government health clinics , food distribution centers , a bank and a preschool program were the targets of violence , officials said . CNN could not independently confirm the government reports of violence , and it was unknown whether there were any opposition injuries or fatalities . Maduro secured 50.8 % of votes in Sunday 's election , while opposition candidate Capriles won 49 % , Venezuela 's National Electoral Council said . Since the tally was announced , both Capriles and Maduro have publicly urged supporters to remain peaceful while also accusing each other of inciting violence . The issue of post-election clashes swiftly became a flashpoint for a new round of political sparring Tuesday , as Capriles repeated his calls for a recount and Maduro vowed to use an iron fist to crack down on any attempts to unseat him from the presidency . Speaking to reporters Tuesday , Capriles presented a list of alleged election violations that he said impacted hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans , including problems with voting machines , inconsistencies in tallies reported by voting centers and reports that opposition witnesses were forced out of hundreds of polls . `` The right to demand the counting of votes in a country where there is democracy ... . can not be a crime , '' he told CNN en EspaÃ±ol in an exclusive interview Tuesday night . Capriles called off plans to protest at the central office of Venezuela 's election authority in Caracas on Wednesday , saying the government had planned to infiltrate their ranks and provoke violence . Anyone who takes to the streets Wednesday , he said , is not affiliated with his campaign . `` The government wants there to be deaths in the country , '' he said , accusing authorities of using violence to distract from his push for a recount . `` We are not going to step into that trap , '' Capriles told CNN en EspaÃ±ol . Hours before the protest was canceled , Maduro had said the planned opposition protest in Caracas was illegal and accused opposition leaders of a plot to massacre their own people and later blame the government . Maduro has not responded to CNN 's interview requests . In nationally televised remarks Tuesday , he accused the U.S. Embassy of fueling opposition violence . `` The U.S. Embassy is the one who has financed and directed all the acts of violence in this country . It has financed these neo-Nazi groups , '' he said . The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to Maduro 's accusation , but last month a spokeswoman said `` the United States categorically rejects allegations of any U.S. government involvement in any plots to destabilize the Venezuelan government or to harm anyone in Venezuela . '' If violence surges , Maduro said he would not hold back from taking action . `` If they continue with the violence , '' he said , `` what we can do is radicalize this revolution . '' As heated public comments from Maduro and Capriles filled the airwaves , sharp accusations surged in social media . In a series of Twitter posts Tuesday , a top official in Maduro 's United Socialist Party of Venezuela blamed Capriles for the violence and called for a criminal investigation of the opposition candidate . `` Fascist Capriles , I will personally see that you pay for all of the damage that you 're doing to our homeland and our people , '' said Diosdado Cabello , president of Venezuela 's National Assembly . `` They chased after doctors , burned dwellings , you caused all of this , Capriles , you irresponsible one . '' Another congressman , Pedro Carreno , said in a Twitter post that authorities should arrest Capriles . A spokesman for Carreno 's office told CNN that the congressman planned to call for a debate on the issue in the National Assembly Tuesday . Andres Izarra , a top official for Maduro 's campaign , said in a Twitter post that Capriles should be imprisoned . As the National Assembly met Tuesday , Cabello told lawmakers that he would only recognize those who recognize Maduro as president . `` If you do not recognize the president , I do not recognize you as congressmen , '' he said , `` because you were elected by the same ( system ) . '' Analysis : Why Venezuela is so divided ? CNN 's Paula Newton reported from Caracas . CNN 's Catherine E. Shoichet wrote the story in Atlanta . CNN 's Fernando del Rincon , Jose Armijo and journalist Osmary Hernandez contributed to this report .
Capriles : ` ` The right to demand the counting of votes ... should not be a crime '' They bang pots and pans in a continued push for a referendum . 7 people have died in post - election violence , state news agency reports . Maduro : ` ` If they continue with the protests , we can radicalize this country ''