Venezuela presidential election underway, preliminary results expected late Sunday

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he will accept the results of the country's election, whether he wins or loses.

Chavez told reporters, "We'll respect the results, whatever they are."

Chavez spoke after casting his vote in Caracas. He also said voters are turning out in massive numbers in Sunday's election.

The Venezuelan leader is running against opposition leader Henrique Capriles in a vote widely viewed as the toughest electoral challenge of Chavez's nearly 14-year-old presidency.

Chavez was greeted at the polling center by American actor Danny Glover and Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu.