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Monday, February 25, 2013

Cypriot conservative chief declares victory in runoff vote

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cypriot conservative leader Nicos Anastasiades declared victory in a presidential runoff vote on Sunday after taking an insurmountable lead against his leftist rival.

"It is a clear lead for Mr. Anastasiades," Tasos Mitsopoulos, Anastasiades's spokesman, told reporters.

Cyprus presidential candidate Nicos Anastasiades (R), of the right wing Democratic Rally party, leaves a booth as his grandson Andis looks on at a polling station in Limassol February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis
Cyprus presidential candidate Nicos Anastasiades (R), of the right wing Democratic Rally party, leaves a booth as his grandson Andis looks on at a polling station in Limassol February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis

"It is a clear and strong mandate for change, for reform, for our country to exit this vicious circle of crisis."

Anastasiades took a 57.5 percent share of the vote after 98 percent of the vote was counted, 15 points ahead of rival Stavros Malas, who is backed by the Communist party AKEL.

Anastasiades is in favour of a quick bailout deal with European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders to avert a looming Cypriot bankruptcy, while Malas has promised to drive a hard bargain on the austerity terms accompanying a rescue.

(Reporting by Michele Kambas, Writing by Deepa Babington)


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