Left-wing presidential candidate Rafael Correa from the PAIS (Nation) coalition on Sunday won the second round run-off for the Ecuadorian presidency, an exit poll published by TV station Voz y Voto (Voice and Vote) said.

Correa has won nearly 58 percent of the vote and his run-off rival conservative Alvaro Noboa 42 percent, Voz y Voto quoted the poll as showing.

Official results are not due until 9:00 PM local time, four hours after the close of the voting.

Voting began at 7:00 AM (12:00 GMT) and closed at 5:00 PM (22:00 GMT). The winner will take office on Jan. 15, 2007 for a four-year term.

In October's first-round election, the 56-year-old Noboa, Ecuador's richest man, won nearly 27 percent of the vote, about four percentage points ahead of Correa, 43.

However, Correa's supporting rates were picking up thereafter and enjoyed an eight-point lead over Noboa in the latest poll.

On Saturday, Correa expressed his wish to seek strong ties with the United States, hoping the Ecuador-US ties "will be the best possible."

But the economist also accused the US Central Intelligence Agency of interfering with the first round of the presidential election. He gave no details.

There are about 9.2 million eligible voters in Ecuador.?

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)