MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - Former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica, 74, won Uruguay's presidential election Sunday with around 50 percent of the vote, according to exit polls taken by television stations.

If the figure matches or exceeds 50 percent in the official count, the candidate of the incumbent, leftist Broad Front party would be the outright winner against former president Luis Lacalle, 68, from the National Party, and Pedro Bordaberry.

Polls officially closed at 2130 GMT and official results are expected one hour later.

As many of Uruguay's 2.6 million registered voters took to the polls Sunday to choose a successor to President Tabare Vazquez and also elect a new Congress. --AFP