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| Ecuador set for run-off election | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The richest man in Ecuador is to face a leftist in a run-off next month after the first round of the presidential election, exit polls suggest. | The richest man in Ecuador is to face a leftist in a run-off next month after the first round of the presidential election, exit polls suggest. |
| Alvaro Noboa won slightly more of the vote than Rafael Correa, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the polls indicate. | Alvaro Noboa won slightly more of the vote than Rafael Correa, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the polls indicate. |
| The outgoing President, Alfredo Palacio, described the election as a festival of democracy. | The outgoing President, Alfredo Palacio, described the election as a festival of democracy. |
| Ecuador is to have its eighth leader in 10 years of political turbulence. | Ecuador is to have its eighth leader in 10 years of political turbulence. |
| According to the exit polls, Mr Noboa had a lead of one to two points over Correa, with neither managing to score more than 28% in the 13-candidate race. | According to the exit polls, Mr Noboa had a lead of one to two points over Correa, with neither managing to score more than 28% in the 13-candidate race. |
| The two are now heading for a second round on 26 November. | The two are now heading for a second round on 26 November. |
| Close race | Close race |
| Earlier, Mr Correa, 43, was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd as he cast his ballot at a college in Quito. | Earlier, Mr Correa, 43, was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd as he cast his ballot at a college in Quito. |
| Mr Correa has vowed to challenge the political establishment | |
| He complained of irregularities in the voting, but the head of the Organisation of American States' electoral observers said the campaigning and organisation of the elections had generally been without incident. | He complained of irregularities in the voting, but the head of the Organisation of American States' electoral observers said the campaigning and organisation of the elections had generally been without incident. |
| Outsiders are closely observing a ballot which could tip the balance of power in Latin America in favour of the leftist, anti-American politics of Mr Chavez and Bolivia's Evo Morales. | Outsiders are closely observing a ballot which could tip the balance of power in Latin America in favour of the leftist, anti-American politics of Mr Chavez and Bolivia's Evo Morales. |
| Mr Correa has promised to ban free trade pacts with the US, rewrite the constitution to strengthen presidential powers and achieve a "citizen's revolution". | Mr Correa has promised to ban free trade pacts with the US, rewrite the constitution to strengthen presidential powers and achieve a "citizen's revolution". |
| Mr Noboa, 55, is a pro-US billionaire who has promised to build houses and create jobs to carry Ecuador's poor into the middle class. | Mr Noboa, 55, is a pro-US billionaire who has promised to build houses and create jobs to carry Ecuador's poor into the middle class. |
| He has condemned Mr Correa as a communist during campaign rallies. | He has condemned Mr Correa as a communist during campaign rallies. |
| He is making his third attempt on the presidency and has promised to bolster free markets and sign a free trade deal with the US. | He is making his third attempt on the presidency and has promised to bolster free markets and sign a free trade deal with the US. |
| Driven from power | Driven from power |
| Voting was obligatory, which was probably just as well, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Quito, as many voters say they are tired of their politicians. | Voting was obligatory, which was probably just as well, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Quito, as many voters say they are tired of their politicians. |
| ECUADOR VOTES Polling day 15 OctRun-off 26 NovVoting is obligatory9.2 million registered voters13 candidates | |
| Thousands threatened to spoil their ballot papers in protest at years of corruption and mismanagement. | Thousands threatened to spoil their ballot papers in protest at years of corruption and mismanagement. |
| Ecuador enjoys huge oil and banana wealth but half the population lives around the poverty line and unemployment is high. | Ecuador enjoys huge oil and banana wealth but half the population lives around the poverty line and unemployment is high. |
| Ecuadoreans have driven their last three elected presidents from power and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms. | Ecuadoreans have driven their last three elected presidents from power and only three since 1979 have succeeded in serving full terms. |
| There is not much evidence that whoever wins this election will fare much better, our correspondent says. | There is not much evidence that whoever wins this election will fare much better, our correspondent says. |