Uruguay: Polls open in presidential election runoff

By Ayse Dogru

MONTEVIDEO (AA) - Uruguay went to polls on Sunday to elect the replacement of Tabare Vasquez as president of the Latin American nation in a second round runoff vote.

Uruguay's leftist candidate Daniel Martínez and his center-right rival Luis Lacalle Pou are contesting in the runoff.

The polls opened at 08.00 a.m. local time (1100GMT) and will close at 7.30 p.m. local time (2230GMT). Almost 2.7 million people are eligible to cast their votes.

Martínez prevailed in the first round of the presidential elections with 40% of the vote, according to results at the ballot box.

Lacalle Pou, leader of the opposition National Party, obtained around 29%.

Following the results, Manini Ríos and Talvi expressed their support for Lacalle Pou in the second round.