Leftist Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, a U.S. Cold War foe, won Nicaragua's presidential election with more than 38 percent of votes cast, according to a quick count released on Monday.

Ortega enjoyed an almost nine-point lead over his closest rival Eduardo Montealegre, Washington's favored candidate, the count said.

Ortega pulled in 38.49 percent and Montealegre got 29.52 percent in the quick count. The count had a margin of error of 1.7 points.

Ortega needs at least 35 percent of the vote and an advantage of 5 percentage points over his closest rival to secure him a first-round win.

"These results are final," said Roberto Courtney, who headed the count, adding that Ortega's lead was irreversible.

The race, 16 years after a U.S.-backed rebellion helped force him from office, was Ortega's fifth consecutive presidential campaign.

Ortega's victory, if confirmed by final official results, would give Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez a strong ally in the region while threatening U.S. aid to the second-poorest nation in the hemisphere.

Source: Xinhua