(24 Oct 1996) Spanish/Nat
Controversy still plagues Nicaragua's presidential elections.
Election authorities say they will stop giving out results for one week while they double-check the disputed vote count.
Observers claim the weekend election was clean and fair but authorities say they have found boxes of ballots dumped in fields on the outskirts of the capital.
Nicaragua's weekend election was plagued by lack of organisation and technical problems.
The vote was complicated-- voters were faced with the choice of president, National Assembly members, mayor and scores of other posts.
Boxes and plastic bags full of ballots are still piled up in the halls of the vote counting centre.
In partial results released Wednesday, right-wing candidate Arnoldo Aleman appeared to have won the presidential race.
But Sandinista candidate Daniel Ortega vowed not to concede defeat until the tallies were double-checked.
With 87-point-5 percent of votes counted, Aleman still leads by 49 percent. Ortega trails with 38 percent.
Election observers declared the election clean and fair.
However, the Sandinistas and 14 other parties that took part in the election are complaining about irregularities in the voting.
They claim that tens of thousands of ballots are missing from the vote-counting centre in Managua.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
The 1996 electoral process that was overshadowed by multiple irregularities throughout the year, ended as an national election plagued by worrisome anomalies and accusations over thousands of electoral faults, including the lack of protection of thousands of ballots that publicly circulated in the streets of Managua without the proper care.
SUPER CAPTION: Francisco Mayorga, "Pan y Fuerza" Party
It seems that their claims could be true.
Authorities say they have found hundreds of uncounted ballots that were dumped in various fields in and around Managua.
These were found Tuesday night and locals claim they saw official government vehicles driving through the area.
Voters feel disappointment and are calling on the authorities to respect their voting rights.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
What happens is that they have to be honest because our votes are here in the rubbish and what we want is honesty.
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Election authorities have not commented on the finding.
And observers maintain their position that the election was clean and fair.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
Until we confirm or verify by actions or evidence that there has been an anomaly, we will maintain our criteria that until today the process is conducted within normality.
SUPER CAPTION: Mr. Santa Maria, Obsever Organisation of American States
In a nationwide address, President Violeta Chamorro urged Nicaraguans to remain calm while the painstaking count is completed.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I ask that we maintain tranquillity while awaiting the final results which should be made known by the Electoral Council the soonest possible. I want to invite all to trust the results of these elections.
SUPER CAPTION: Violeta Chamorro, President of Nicaragua
Election officials say they will stop giving out results for one week while they double-check the vote count.
The full preliminary results are not expected to be published until about a week from Thursday.
An official winner would be announced another week after that.
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