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| El Salvador ex-guerrilla in run-off vote for president | El Salvador ex-guerrilla in run-off vote for president |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voting has closed in El Salvador in an election which could see a former guerrilla become president. | |
| The governing party candidate - former rebel commander Salvador Sanchez Ceren - won the first round and has a comfortable lead in opinion polls. | The governing party candidate - former rebel commander Salvador Sanchez Ceren - won the first round and has a comfortable lead in opinion polls. |
| His right-wing opponent, Norman Quijano, says the government has been too soft on street gangs responsible for much of El Salvador's violence. | His right-wing opponent, Norman Quijano, says the government has been too soft on street gangs responsible for much of El Salvador's violence. |
| The Central American nation has one of the world's highest murder rates. | The Central American nation has one of the world's highest murder rates. |
| In the first round, held on 2 February, Mr Sanchez Ceren had 48.93% of the vote. He needed 50% to avoid a run-off against Mr Quijano, who received 38.93%. | In the first round, held on 2 February, Mr Sanchez Ceren had 48.93% of the vote. He needed 50% to avoid a run-off against Mr Quijano, who received 38.93%. |
| Mr Sanchez Ceren, 69, was a Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) commander during El Salvador's bloody civil war, which went on from 1980 to 1992. | Mr Sanchez Ceren, 69, was a Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) commander during El Salvador's bloody civil war, which went on from 1980 to 1992. |
| The FMLN became a political party after the end of the civil war and won the presidential election for the first time in 2009. | The FMLN became a political party after the end of the civil war and won the presidential election for the first time in 2009. |
| Mauricio Funes was elected and Mr Sanchez Ceren served as his deputy. | Mauricio Funes was elected and Mr Sanchez Ceren served as his deputy. |
| Street gangs truce | Street gangs truce |
| In 2012, Mr Funes's government facilitated a truce between the country's two biggest gangs. | In 2012, Mr Funes's government facilitated a truce between the country's two biggest gangs. |
| The criminal organisations, or "maras," are involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping and vicious turf wars in El Salvador and neighbouring countries. | The criminal organisations, or "maras," are involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping and vicious turf wars in El Salvador and neighbouring countries. |
| The truce initially reduced El Salvador's murder rates but there are signs that the deal is falling apart. | The truce initially reduced El Salvador's murder rates but there are signs that the deal is falling apart. |
| Mr Sanchez Ceren has tried to distance his campaign from the plan, which is widely unpopular with ordinary Salvadorans, says the BBC's Will Grant. | Mr Sanchez Ceren has tried to distance his campaign from the plan, which is widely unpopular with ordinary Salvadorans, says the BBC's Will Grant. |
| He says he will try to include all political forces in the government if he wins the vote. | He says he will try to include all political forces in the government if he wins the vote. |
| "The Salvadoran people want hope. For that reason, we are going to build a great national understanding with all political forces," said Mr Sanchez Ceren. | "The Salvadoran people want hope. For that reason, we are going to build a great national understanding with all political forces," said Mr Sanchez Ceren. |
| He has promised to tackle crime through education and social programmes. | He has promised to tackle crime through education and social programmes. |
| Mr Quijano, 67, has blamed the government for negotiating with gang leaders. | Mr Quijano, 67, has blamed the government for negotiating with gang leaders. |
| Despite the high rates of violent crime and economic instability, Mr Quijano's Arena party has not been able to mount a serious challenge to Mr Sanchez Ceren. | Despite the high rates of violent crime and economic instability, Mr Quijano's Arena party has not been able to mount a serious challenge to Mr Sanchez Ceren. |
| Opinion polls show the governing candidate 10 to 18 percentage points ahead of his rival. | Opinion polls show the governing candidate 10 to 18 percentage points ahead of his rival. |
| The new president will be sworn in on 1 June for a five-year term. | The new president will be sworn in on 1 June for a five-year term. |