Both candidates claim victory in presidential run-off

Both candidates in Romania's presidential election claimed victory on Sunday after most early exit polls showed leftist challenger Mircea Geoana (pictured) with a slight lead over incumbent Traian Basescu.

AFP - Romania's centre-right incumbent President Traian Basescu and his Social-Democrat challenger Mircea Geoana both claimed victory after Sunday's presidential run-off vote.

"We won together. Our victory is the victory of all Romanians who want a better life," Geoana told supporters after three exit polls out of four put him ahead of Basescu.

The Insomar institute ordered by the private news channel Realitatea TV credits Geoana of 51.6 percent of the votes. The Curs institute says he won with 50.80 percent, while a CCSB poll gave him 51.2 percent.

A fourth poll conducted by the CSOP institute put the two men neck and neck with exactly 50 percent each.

Basescu also claimed victory and accused TV stations of "manipulation."

"I won. I assure you that... the correct polls showed that I was ahead of Mircea Geoana," said Basescu.

The first official results will be published on Monday at 0600 GMT. However, final official results will probably be available only on Wednesday.

Geoana called on Basescu to pass "this moment of bitterness" in order have a democratic transfer of power.

Date created : 2009-12-06