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DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) - The presidential candidate of the ruling Revolutionary Party took a commanding lead Friday in the third election in this East African country since multiparty politics were reintroduced in 1992.
Jakaya Kikwete, who serves as foreign minister in the outgoing government, carried nearly 80 percent of the votes as well as 29 constituencies out of 34 declared, the National Electoral Commission said. His nearest rival, Ibrahim Lipumba of the Civic United Front, received 10 percent of the votes and five constituencies.
The announcement marked the first provisional results of Wednesday's vote in a slow counting and verification process. Officials did not release any results for the parliamentary or local government elections. About 16 million of Tanzania's estimated 38 million people were registered to vote.
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