Venezuelans have voted in favour of claiming an oil-rich territory long controlled by neighbouring Guyana.

More than 95% approved establishing a new state in Essequibo in Sunday’s referendum.

Caracas says the region has been part of Venezuela since independence from Spain 200 years ago, but Guyana says it was awarded to what was then British Guiana in the late 19th Century.

Furthermore, Guyana has condemned the vote as an aggressive attempt at “annexation”.

Guyana filed a case at the International Court of Justice but Venezuela has not accepted that the ICJ has jurisdiction over this issue.

The ICJ ordered Venezuela on Friday to refrain from any concrete action that may alter the status quo in the Essequibo.