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MANAGUA - Former Marxist revolutionary Daniel Ortega was headed back to power yesterday in a presidential election 16 years after Nicaragua's voters ousted him to end a brutal civil war with US-trained Contra rebels.
Ortega's almost certain victory was a blow to Washington and reinforces an anti-US alliance in Latin America led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
With most returns in from polling stations in Monday's election, Ortega had 38.6 percent support and a big enough lead over his nearest rival to seal a first-round win.
Hundreds of Ortega's Sandinista party supporters, some riding on horseback, took to the streets at sunset to wave black-and-red party flags and celebrate.
"It is great happiness. It came at last after 16 years of hunger and unemployment," said a delighted Rafael Vega, 67.
"Daniel has changed over confronting the United States but neither are we going to be submissive and say 'Yes, sir' to everyone," Vega said, smiling.
Ortega, 60, has dropped the hard-line policies of his revolutionary past and campaigned on a centre-left platform. He backs a free-trade pact with the United States and says he has no interest in clashing with his old enemy.
He stopped short of claiming victory on Monday night, preferring to wait until final official results, but said he was ready to work with other parties to "eradicate poverty and reassure the private sector and international investors".
Still, Washington fears he will stand alongside Venezuela's Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro in challenging US interests.
Ortega was a leader of the popular Sandinista revolution that toppled US-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979.
- REUTERS
