PM Sarksyan win 1st round of Armenia´s presidential election

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-20-2008 09:27

Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan has won the first round of Armenia's presidential election, garnering 57 percent of the vote.

Armenia's Prime Minister and presidential candidate Serzh Sarksyan casts his ballot in a presidential election at a polling  station in Yerevan February 19, 2008.  REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

This is according to an exit poll conducted by Britain's Populus pollster for Armenian public television.

Sarksyan has been given credit for improving the living standards of Armenias during his term in office.

The exit poll also shows Sarksyan's strongest opponent, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, won 17 percent.

Most observers predict if Sarksyan is elected, his rule will be broadly a continuation of President Robert Kocharyan's 10 years in office.

Kocharyan is barred by the constitution from serving a third consecutive term. He is expected to remain influential, but has refused to disclose what role he will take until his replacement is inaugurated.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei