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UN formally certifies Gusmão's win of East Timor's presidential election

UN formally certifies Gusmão's win of East Timor's presidential election

The head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor has received the certified results of the territory's recent presidential election, which former guerrilla fighter and independence leader Xanana Gusmão won in a landslide.

The Board of Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) delivered the certified results of the 14 April presidential election to Sergio Vieira de Mello on Sunday for transmittal to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"The Board of Commissioners did not have a difficult task in concluding that the criteria for a free and fair election have been met," said Maria Aurora dos Reis, who chaired the Board. She added that no formal complaints had been lodged with the board by any of the candidates or political parties involved in the election process.

On 17 April, the UN announced that Mr. Gusmão had garnered 82.7 per cent of the 378,548 ballots cast in Sunday's election, easily outdistancing his only opponent, Legislative Assembly Vice President Xavier do Amaral.