Opposition victory in Dominican republic

Hipolito Mejia promised to help the poor

The left-wing populist candidate, Hipolito Mejia, has been declared winner of the presidential elections in the Dominican Republic after both his rivals withdrew from the contest.

Mr Mejia had won 49.8% of the vote, just less than the 50% plus one vote he had needed to be declared the outright winner under the rules.

But the two other candidates - Danilo Medina of the ruling Dominican Republican Party and the 93-year-old former president Joaquin Balaquer - have now conceded defeat.

Mr Medina: Accepts defeat

Mr Medina told a news conference that he had decided to allow the electoral authorities to declare Mr Mejia the winner "to avoid creating problems in the Dominican Republic".

He said another round of electoral campaigning might create instability and damage the economy. Mr Balaquer had already accepted Mr Mejia's victory.

The electoral commission has yet to comment.

The poor wanted Mejia

As early as Wednesday, Mr Mejia, candidate of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, claimed victory on national television, and began outlining his priorities once he took office.

His supporters have been celebrating on the streets of the capital, San Domingo.

Mr Balaguer: Seven time president

Correspondents say that Mr Mejia was favourite to win the election after capitalising on deep discontent within the country's vast underclass, who say they have not seen any benefits from a four-year economic boom.

He has promised to concentrate on small public works projects, road repairs, sanitation and better schools.

Mr Medina had insisted that the economic success would eventually trickle down to the poor, while Mr Balaguer had promised the security of firm government.

Mr Balaguer, now a blind and frail man, has been president of his country seven times, ruling for most of the past 40 years.

Tension mounted on Wednesday when vote-counting was unexpectedly broken off for several hours, prompting the governing party to urge the electoral authorities to publish the final results as soon as possible.

Police reported two deaths that appeared to be related to the elections, but voting was otherwise peaceful.

More than 100 foreign observers, including delegations from the Organization of American States and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, monitored the election.

About 4.25 million registered voters took part in the elections - the country's 10th since the demise of dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1961.