Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has gained enough votes to win the run-off poll to become East Timor's next president, the election commission said yesterday.
The Nobel peace prize winner had 273,685 votes, or 73 percent, after 90 percent of ballots in Wednesday's election had been counted, commission spokeswoman Maria Angelina Sarmento said, adding the count needed to be verified.
Asked if the news meant Ramos-Horta had won, she said: "It is not for us to say. The decision will be made by the court of appeal."
PHOTO: AFP
Ramos-Horta's opponent, former guerrilla Francisco Guterres, had 101,374 votes, or 27 percent.
The bespectacled Ramos-Horta, who spearheaded an overseas campaign for East Timor's independence, had said he expected to get 70 or 80 percent of the vote.
"I am ready to be the president now and I will make good on my promises to resolve the crisis and the refugee problem," he had said.
A regional split erupted into bloodshed last May after the sacking of 600 mutinous troops from the western region. Foreign troops were brought in to restore order but 30,000 people remain in camps across Dili, too afraid to go home.
Wednesday's polls passed peacefully, with few reports of glitches, in contrast to the first-round vote a month ago which was marred by complaints of widespread irregularities.
Dili also appeared calm yesterday and people were quietly sitting on the beach front near the government palace.
Only small groups of international soldiers could be seen patrolling near the capital's court complex.
Ramos-Horta, a 57-year-old former journalist, also pledged to work closely with the international community.
"I will accelerate economic development, bring foreign investors and work to eradicate poverty in this nation," he said.
Ramos-Horta and Guterres -- a former independence fighter nicknamed "Lu'Olo" and president of the ruling Fretilin party -- won the most votes in the first round, but none of the eight candidates won a clear majority, forcing the extra round.
Before the election commission announcement, Fretilin spokesman Filomeni Aleixo had said the party would respect the results.
"Whatever the result for Fretilin we are ready to accept it with dignity," he added, accusing opponents of making unrealistic promises.
Slightly more than half-a-million people were eligible to vote in the election and turnout is expected to have approached the 82 percent seen in the first round.
Ramos-Horta won backing from five of the first-round losers. Analysts said this gave him a strong advantage even though Guterres enjoyed significant grassroots support in many areas and had the powerful Fretilin party machine behind him.
Outgoing President Xanana Gusmao will now run for the post of prime minister.
Ramos-Horta is widely viewed as more friendly to the West and economic globalization, while Guterres and Fretilin take a more leftist and nationalist line.
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