Friday, September 1, 2006

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Reuters): Guyana's youthful President Bharrat Jagdeo has won re-election in the former British colony, authorities said on Thursday.

Jagdeo, a 42-year-old ethnic Indian, won 64.6 percent of Monday's vote while his People's Progressive Party/Civic party also held its majority in 65-member parliament, said Guyana Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo.

Guyana, an impoverished nation wedged between Venezuela and Suriname, appeared to have escaped violence that marred previous votes. Political tensions between the Indian majority and Afro-Guyanese boiled over into rioting after elections in 1992, 1997 and 2001.

Jagdeo, educated as an economist in Russia, has promised better government services and to crack down on crime. But Guyana remains poor and lacking in investment despite a wealth of bauxite, gold and timber reserves.

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