WORLD
Dominican Republic election: Danilo Medina leads race
Baku, May 21 (AZERTAC). Partial results from the Dominican Republic's presidential election put governing party candidate Danilo Medina in the lead.
With about three-quarters of votes counted, Mr Medina was on 51% with former president Hipolito Mejia on 47%.
If confirmed, there would be no need for a run-off next month, but the opposition challenged the results so far, alleging fraud.
Among the main issues for the electorate were crime and unemployment.
The president of the Electoral Committee, Roberto Rosario, told journalists "the turnout has been high, with an active and peaceful participation from voters".
Heavy rain delayed voting in some parts of the country.
Opinion polls had suggested a tight race, with the outcome possibly decided by the ballots cast by Dominicans in the United States.
There are more than 300,000 people registered to vote who live abroad, most of them in the New York area.
Dominican President Leonel Fernandez is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
His Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) chose Mr Medina, a 60-year-old economist, as its candidate.
Mr Medina ran on a promise of boosting economic growth in the Caribbean country.
Mr Medina's opponent is an old rival, Hipolito Mejia - an experienced politician who defeated him in presidential elections in 2000.
Mr Mejia, 71, from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), campaigned under the slogan "Llego Papa" (Here's Daddy).
He vowed to fight corruption and create jobs.
The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, and the economy has been growing steadily, at about 4.5% a year.
But more than 30% of its 10 million citizens still live below the poverty line, a problem both Mr Medina and Mr Mejia have promised to address.