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Runner Up in Bolivia Presidential Race Concedes Defeat, Citing Exit Polling

VOA News

   Bolivian presidential candidate Carlos Mesa of the Citizen Community
   partyhasconceded defeat to rival Luis ArceCatacora, candidate of the
   Movement Towards Socialismparty, citing exit polls showing Arce withan
   insurmountablelead.

   Speaking Monday, Mesasaid he recognizes that there has been a winner in
   the election and thatit is appropriate in a democracy to recognize the
   victory.

   Mesa's concessioncomes a day after theelection, withthe officialcount
   bythe Supreme Electoral Tribunal expected in the next few days.

   Exit pollsrevealed Arceobtained at least a20-percentagepoint lead over
   Mesa, with third placed candidate Luis Fernando Camacho
   oftheCreemoscoalitiongarnering just over 14 percent of the votes.

   Meantime, theFrench NewsAgencyreports exiled former president Evo
   Morales is suggesting hewill returnto Bolivia after the election
   victory by Arce, a former member of Morales'cabinet.

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