Honduran election still too close to call
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-01 09:39

Honduras' presidential election remained too close to call Wednesday, with the opposition candidate who was proclaimed victor three days ago leading by less than half a percentage point.

With nearly half the votes in Sunday's election counted, Manuel Zelaya of the opposition Liberal Party had 48 percent, compared with 47.6 percent for Porfirio Lobo Sosa of the ruling National Party, according to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

It was not clear why it took so long for the results to be released. Explanations have included computer problems, a last-minute change in quick-count procedures and accusations of wrongdoing from both major parties.

Aristides Mejia, the electoral tribunal's president, declared Monday that the 52-year-old Zelaya won the election. His statement, based on a sample of just over 1 percent of precincts, outraged Lobo Sosa's camp, which noted that Mejia was the Liberal Party appointee to the tribunal, which is made up of party delegates.

Exit polls also showed Zelaya with a lead over Lobo Sosa, who was nominated by the party of President Ricardo Maduro. Zelaya declared victory, but Lobo Sosa has refused to concede.

Zelaya vowed to reinvigorate the Honduran economy by eliminating government corruption. Lobo Sosa proposed instituting the death penalty for such "abominable crimes" as sexual assault, kidnapping and murder. Honduras abolished the death penalty in 1937.

Earlier Tuesday, electoral observers from the Organization of American States said they would remain in this country until the final results of the weekend presidential vote are released.

Venezuelan Moises Benamor, the head of the OAS' 114 observers, said he expected results before the weekend, and he criticized the Supreme Electoral Tribunal as being "politicized."

The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa urged political leaders on both sides to "act with responsibility and calm in this period before the publication of definitive results."

"We know that at this time the public demands a strong and solid institution that will indicate for them who won each post in the popular election," the statement said, adding "we hope that Honduras continues strengthening its democracy."

Maduro told The Associated Press that he expected final results "soon," and he criticized Mejia for declaring a winner too early.

"The crisis began with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which offered voting statistics and automatically proclaimed the Liberal candidate" the winner, Maduro said.

More than 3,000 supporters of the National Party took to the streets late Monday to demonstrate against the tribunal, demanding that officials release information about the election.

The new U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Charles Ford, met with Zelaya and Lobo Sosa. Details about the meeting were not released.