Porfirio Lobo Wins Honduran Presidential Vote

Wealthy rancher Porfirio Lobo declared victory after election results showed a broad lead for the candidate from the opposition National Party.

Porfirio Lobo has won the presidential election in Honduras, with about 56 percent of ballots cast. Election officials say voter turnout was high, in spite of a call by ousted President Manuel Zelaya to boycott the poll.

Wealthy rancher Porfirio Lobo declared victory after election results showed a broad lead for the candidate from the opposition National Party. The outcome was a vindication for Porfirio Lobo, who narrowly lost to ousted President Manuel Zelaya in the 2005 vote.

Speaking at a rally late Sunday, Porfirio Lobo told supporters he will work to improve security, create new jobs and restore international ties.

Lobo says he hopes to bring about profound changes that will enable Honduras to return to the place it was four years ago, before Mr. Zelaya took office.

Election officials said about 62 percent of voters took part in the vote, which eclipsed turnout figures from the 2005 election. The official numbers contradicted earlier claims from Mr. Zelaya, who said his supporters estimated that less than half of registered voters took part.

The ousted leader called on voters to boycott the election, saying the de facto government is illegitimate. Since October, Mr. Zelaya has been living inside the Brazilian embassy as Honduran officials seek to arrest him on charges of abuse of power and treason.