Preliminary Results Indicate Toledo Winning Peruvian Elections

The exit polls and the reports from the National Electoral Process Office (ONPE) in Peru both indicated that Alejandro Toledo, a World Bank economist, has defeated former president Alan Garcia and won Sunday's run-off elections in the Latin American country.

Toledo, the Presidential Candidate of the Peru Possible Party (PP), appeared to have won the race shown from the preliminary results of Sunday's elections by the time they closed. He won 44 percent of the votes, according to exit polls.

According to the polls conducted outside voting centers, Alan Garcia of the Aprista Peruvian Party (PAP) got 38 percent of the votes.

An exit poll by pollster Apoyo, showed Toledo defeated Garcia with 44.5 percent of the votes, while Datum, another pollster counting valid votes only, gave Toledo 53.5 percent, and Garcia 46. 7 percent.

Historically, exit polls in Peru have had an accuracy within 5 percent points of the final result.

ONPE, in charge of releasing official results, issued its first report of the elections, which gave victory to Toledo with 52 percent of the votes, while Garcia netted 46.7 percent.

Ballot centers closed at 16:00 local time (2000 GMT), without reports of incidents or major fraud denunciations.

Meanwhile, supporters of Toledo demonstrated in the streets singing songs and chanting slogans to express their happiness for the apparent victory of the leader, who represents the Peru Possible Party.

Toledo thanked the support from Peruvians, yet he issued a low- key statement, saying that he is awaiting final official results.

"I salute the Peruvian people who has exercised its democratic right to decide its destiny, bringing to a close this way, a long fight to conquer democracy in Peru," said Toledo in the communiqu.

Hundreds of Toledo supporters have, however, started to gather outside a downtown Lima hotel to celebrate his victory to head Peru from 2001 to 2006.

The enthusiasm of the demonstrators rose when Toledo's preliminary victory was announced, with a 4-percent advantage over Garcia.

No enthusiasm was observed in the headquarters of PAP, with its doors closed. It was reported that Garcia was not about to issue any statement.






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