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Guatemala election: Jimmy Morales ahead in presidential poll Guatemala election: Run-off due as Jimmy Morales leads polls
(about 14 hours later)
Early results from Guatemala's presidential election put a comic actor who has campaigned against corruption in the lead. Comic actor Jimmy Morales is leading Guatemala's presidential election, as two other candidates battle head to head to get a place in a run-off vote.
Jimmy Morales has about 25% of the vote so far, with a centre-right businessman, Manuel Baldizon, on 21%. Jimmy Morales, who campaigned against corruption, has taken about 24% of the 97% votes so far counted.
If no candidate wins more than half the votes, a second round will be held. Centre-right businessman Manuel Baldizon and ex-first lady Sandra Torres are tied with about 19%.
Voting took place on Sunday, days after the resignation and arrest of President Otto Perez Molina over corruption allegations. Sunday's vote came days after the resignation of President Otto Perez Molina over corruption allegations.
A new congress is also being elected. With no candidate taking 50% of the vote, a second round of voting has been scheduled for 25 October.
Many Guatemalans had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations. Tight race
If, as expected, no candidate wins 50% of the vote, the second round of voting will take place on 25 October. Electoral officials said nearly 80% turned out to vote on Sunday, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The race for a place in the run-off is close, it adds, with Mr Baldizon ahead of Ms Torres by fewer than 800 votes.
As well as a new president, Guatemalans were voting for a vice-president, a new congress and local authorities.
Many had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations.
"Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts," said Mr Morales after voting near Guatemala City."Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts," said Mr Morales after voting near Guatemala City.
"Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections," Mr Baldizon told journalists after casting his vote."Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections," Mr Baldizon told journalists after casting his vote.
There had been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid scepticism that the poll could achieve political change.There had been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid scepticism that the poll could achieve political change.
"I cast a blank vote in protest as the candidates are all bad, they're all the same as those who robbed from us," 34-year-old Josefa Hernandez told Reuters news agency in a suburb of Guatemala City. But voters queued from the early hours to cast their ballots. Some 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the polls.
"If nobody votes for them, maybe they'll realise we're fed up," she added.
But voters queued from the early hours to cast their ballots.
Electoral authorities said 50% of voters had cast their ballots five hours after polls opened.
Some 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the polls.
Prosecutors accuse Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. He denies involvement.Prosecutors accuse Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. He denies involvement.