US, Latin America divided on Honduras election result

• Source: Global Times
• [08:46 December 01 2009]
• Comments

The president-elect of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, addresses supporters Monday in Tegucigalpa. Photo: AFP

By Zhang Wen 
 
Porfirio Lobo's win Sunday in the presidential election in Honduras is likely to set Washington against many leftist Latin American governments over whether to recognize the winner of a vote promoted by the leaders of June coup.

Lobo, from the center-right National Party, promised to unify a country polarized by the military-led coup against Manuel Zelaya in June, which rattled Latin America and left Honduras isolated and stripped of aid and investment.

According to AFP, the United States was quick to underline its support Sunday, with a government spokesman calling the elections "a necessary and important step forward."

"Significant work remains to be done to restore democratic and constitutional order in Honduras," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly added in a written statement.

Lobo had taken a commanding lead with 55.9 percent of the vote with more than 60 percent of ballots counted, electoral officials said.

Shortly afterward, his main rival, Elvin Santos, who garnered around 38 percent of votes counted, conceded defeat.