The mayor of Buenos Aires, Fernando de la Rua, has been chosen as the candidate of the main opposition parties for presidential elections in Argentina next year.

Following national voting on Sunday, Mr de la Rua, of the centrist Radical party Union Civica Radical, finished significantly ahead of his rival, Graciela Fernandez Meijide, of the centre-left Frepaso coalition.

In claiming victory, Mr de la Rua said the real winner was the alliance between the two parties, formed in an attempt to concentrate opposition votes against the governing Peronist party.

The Peronists will elect their own presidential candidate next April to succeed President Carlos Menem, who is constitutionally prevented from serving a third term in office