Managua - Nicaragua's leftwing Sandinista leader, Mr Daniel Ortega, conceded defeat yesterday in presidential elections he had hoped would return him to power 11 years after his revolutionary government was voted out of office.
"We will respect the people's mandate," Mr Ortega said, adding that the elections had been "extraordinary" with "a massive and exemplary turnout".
Opinion polls had shown Mr Ortega running neck and neck with ruling conservative candidate, Mr Enrique Bolanos, going into Sunday's election.
There were concerns that a slow vote and a tight race could cause tensions, or even violence but Mr Ortega said he fully accepted the vote returns that had him trailing by several percentage points.