This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7944899.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Left claims El Salvador election Left-winger wins El Salvador poll
(about 2 hours later)
Leftist Mauricio Funes of El Salvador's former Marxist rebel FMLN party has claimed victory in the country's presidential election. Leftist Mauricio Funes of El Salvador's former Marxist rebel FMLN party has won the country's presidential election.
With most votes counted, Mr Funes has a clear lead over his conservative rival, Rodrigo Avila of the Arena party. He defeated his conservative rival, Rodrigo Avila of the Arena party - who has admitted defeat.
If the results are confirmed, Arena will have lost its first presidential poll since the end of El Salvador's civil war 18 years ago. Arena had won every presidential election since the end of El Salvador's civil war 18 years ago.
Mr Funes did not participate in the FMLN's armed uprising. Addressing jubilant supporters, Mr Funes said it was the happiest day of his life and the beginning of a new chapter of peace for the country.
Mr Funes' supporters took to the streets to celebrate after exit polls gave their candidate the lead.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in El Salvador says they sense an historic victory.
Break with traditionBreak with tradition
The FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front party) was founded by Marxist guerrilla fighters from the civil war.The FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front party) was founded by Marxist guerrilla fighters from the civil war.
The conflict ended in a UN-sponsored peace accord in 1991, after the loss of some 70,000 lives over less than two decades.The conflict ended in a UN-sponsored peace accord in 1991, after the loss of some 70,000 lives over less than two decades.
Mr Funes, a former television journalist, marks a break of tradition for the party as he is the first of its leaders not to have been an combatant in that war, our correspondent says. Mr Funes, a former television journalist, marks a break of tradition for the party as he is the first of its leaders not to have been an combatant in that war, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in El Salvador says.
He stressed his moderate policies during his campaign and says he intends to maintain good relations with the United States.He stressed his moderate policies during his campaign and says he intends to maintain good relations with the United States.
Supporters of Mr Avila, a former police chief, dismissed the FMLN as "communists".Supporters of Mr Avila, a former police chief, dismissed the FMLN as "communists".
The winner will take over a country plagued with problems, our correspondent notes.The winner will take over a country plagued with problems, our correspondent notes.
El Salvador has one of the world's highest murder rates.El Salvador has one of the world's highest murder rates.
It has also been badly hit by the world economic downturn, with remittances from Salvadorians living abroad falling dramatically.It has also been badly hit by the world economic downturn, with remittances from Salvadorians living abroad falling dramatically.