(21 Oct 1996) Spanish/Nat
Former Managua mayor Arnoldo Aleman has claimed victory in Nicaragua's presidential elections.
First results put the right-wing candidate almost nine points ahead of his main challenger, Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega.
But Ortega says it was premature of Aleman to claim victory and warns of the spectre of fraud.
Election officials are still counting votes from Sunday's general election in Nicaragua.
Latest results released Monday gave right-wing presidential candidate Arnoldo Aleman almost 49 percent of those votes tallied so far.
Aleman has already claimed victory and his Liberal Alliance Party is celebrating the preliminary results.
But Sandinista candidate Daniel Ortega has dismissed Aleman's claims of triumph as premature and irresponsible.
Speaking from his residence in Managua, Ortega also warned officials of the possibility of fraud.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
They should act with responsibility because the last word has not been said yet. All this has to do with the difficulties of the election process, the slowness in the voting process which has delayed the election council's task of tallying votes. We also want to call on all delegates, especially those of the Sandinista Front, not to move from their places, not to let themselves be impressed by reports from the media which already declare Arnoldo Aleman as the winner. We must move very carefully because we've also heard of some anomalies...of some moves aimed at disturbing the process and therefore the delegates present during the vote counting, or those who are in places where people are still voting must not move from their working spaces, they must remain there. We have to watch the voting to avoid fraud because we fear there could be fraud.
SUPER CAPTION: Daniel Ortega, presidential candidate, Sandinista National Liberation Front
Official results from seven percent of the precincts show Aleman leading with 49 percent and Ortega lagging behind with 40 percent.
The Sandinistas claim the voting sample was too small and that the final outcome could still go either way.
Confident of his victory Arnoldo Aleman welcomed scores of supporters at his party's headquarters to celebrate.
Aleman called his victory a triumph for democracy in Nicaragua.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
Our victory is the victory of the Nicaraguan people. It is the victory of democracy.
SUPER CAPTION: Arnoldo Aleman, presidential candidate, Liberal Alliance Party
With traditional music and dancing Aleman's supporters celebrated the preliminary results.
Sandinista supporters disagree.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
According to results we've checked, the Sandinista Front is ahead in this election and the young people hope the Sandinista Front will win because that's the only hope for the Nicaraguan people.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
Aleman says he expects to achieve at least 50 percent of the vote- well above the 45 percent needed to avoid a runoff against Ortega.
In the meantime both sides are determined to party on until election officials come up with the final results.
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