Left-wing presidential candidate Rafael Correa from the PAIS
(Nation) coalition on Sunday won the second round run-off for the
Ecuadorian presidency, an exit poll published by TV station Voz y
Voto (Voice and Vote) said.
Correa has won nearly 58 percent of the vote and his run-off
rival conservative Alvaro Noboa 42 percent, Voz y Voto quoted the
poll as showing.
Official results are not due until 9:00 PM local time, four
hours after the close of the voting.
Voting began at 7:00 AM (12:00 GMT) and closed at 5:00 PM (22:00
GMT). The winner will take office on Jan. 15, 2007 for a four-year
term.
In October's first-round election, the 56-year-old Noboa,
Ecuador's richest man, won nearly 27 percent of the vote, about
four percentage points ahead of Correa, 43.
However, Correa's supporting rates were picking up thereafter
and enjoyed an eight-point lead over Noboa in the latest poll.
On Saturday, Correa expressed his wish to seek strong ties with
the United States, hoping the Ecuador-US ties "will be the best
possible."
But the economist also accused the US Central Intelligence
Agency of interfering with the first round of the presidential
election. He gave no details.
There are about 9.2 million eligible voters in
Ecuador.?
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)
