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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Ecuador leftist Correa leads vote | Ecuador leftist Correa leads vote |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Leftist Rafael Correa has edged closer to victory in Ecuador's presidential election, promising wide reforms. | |
| With almost two-thirds of votes counted, Mr Correa had almost 63% of the vote while his conservative rival Alvaro Noboa polled about 38%. | |
| Washington has congratulated Mr Correa, who opposes a free trade deal with the US, on his apparent victory. | |
| Mr Noboa, a billionaire banana tycoon, has not yet accepted defeat, with full results due on Tuesday. | Mr Noboa, a billionaire banana tycoon, has not yet accepted defeat, with full results due on Tuesday. |
| Ecuador has seen much political turmoil in recent years with seven presidents in the last decade. | Ecuador has seen much political turmoil in recent years with seven presidents in the last decade. |
| The last three elected presidents were overthrown and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms. | The last three elected presidents were overthrown and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms. |
| Policy announcements | Policy announcements |
| Mr Correa, a 43-year-old economist, declared victory on Sunday evening and on Monday took a congratulatory phone call from US Ambassador Linda Jewell. | |
| We accept this victory with dignity and humility... We are just instruments of the power of the people Rafael Correa Profile: Rafael Correa "Thank God, we have triumphed," Mr Correa told supporters in the capital Quito. | |
| "We accept this victory with dignity and humility... We are just instruments of the power of the people." | "We accept this victory with dignity and humility... We are just instruments of the power of the people." |
| Ambassador Jewell said in a statement that Washington hoped to work "in a productive manner" with a government led by Mr Correa. | |
| Although the full official result has not yet been announced, Mr Correa has moved quickly to make policy announcements and appoint ministers. | |
| He said he will try to rejoin the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) which Ecuador left in 1992. | He said he will try to rejoin the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) which Ecuador left in 1992. |
| He also named leftist economists Ricardo Patino and Alberto Acosta as his economy and energy ministers. | He also named leftist economists Ricardo Patino and Alberto Acosta as his economy and energy ministers. |
| Alvaro Noboa has said he will ask for a recount if necessaryHis rival, Mr Noboa, said he would wait until official results were announced before asking for a recount if necessary. | |
| Before voting, he had gone down on his knees, Bible in hand, and asked God for support. | Before voting, he had gone down on his knees, Bible in hand, and asked God for support. |
| "Like Christ, all I want is to serve... so that the poor can have housing, health care, education, jobs," Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. | "Like Christ, all I want is to serve... so that the poor can have housing, health care, education, jobs," Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. |
| Ecuador's richest man, Mr Noboa had campaigned promising to attract foreign investment to Ecuador. He frequently carried a Bible. | Ecuador's richest man, Mr Noboa had campaigned promising to attract foreign investment to Ecuador. He frequently carried a Bible. |
| He had said he would build 300,000 new homes a year for Ecuador's poor. | He had said he would build 300,000 new homes a year for Ecuador's poor. |
| Foreign debt promises | Foreign debt promises |
| An economic aide to Mr Correa said he would not pay some of Ecuador's "illegitimate" foreign debt and would not sign a free trade agreement with the US, Reuters said. | An economic aide to Mr Correa said he would not pay some of Ecuador's "illegitimate" foreign debt and would not sign a free trade agreement with the US, Reuters said. |
| While campaigning, Mr Correa said he wanted to renegotiate contracts with foreign oil companies. | While campaigning, Mr Correa said he wanted to renegotiate contracts with foreign oil companies. |
| However, one adviser to Mr Correa told the Reuters news agency on Monday that as president Mr Correa would be unlikely to nationalise Ecuador's energy industry. | |
| Mr Correa is close to Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez and has called US President George W Bush a "dimwit". | Mr Correa is close to Venezuela's anti-American President Hugo Chavez and has called US President George W Bush a "dimwit". |
| He toned down his comparison to Mr Chavez after he lost the first round vote to Mr Noboa. | He toned down his comparison to Mr Chavez after he lost the first round vote to Mr Noboa. |
| Both candidates had promised to create jobs and fight poverty and corruption. Both had also promised to double the monthly government payout poor Ecuadoreans receive. | Both candidates had promised to create jobs and fight poverty and corruption. Both had also promised to double the monthly government payout poor Ecuadoreans receive. |