San Juan - Opponents of applying for statehood held a slim lead of about three per cent in yesterday's referendum on the Caribbean island's relationship with the US.
With 74 per cent of votes counted, 46.7 per cent favoured pushing the US Congress for statehood, while 50.1 per cent wanted to retain the current status of "commonwealth association" with Washington. Other options, including independence, got less than three per cent of the vote each.