Military

DATE=12/29/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=GUATEMALA ELECTION / L-O

NUMBER=2-211285

BYLINE=CATHERINE ELTON

DATELINE=GUATEMALA CITY

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

INTRO: Former Guatemala City Mayor Oscar Berger is poised to be Guatemalas next

president. Preliminary vote counts give him a solid lead in Sundays

presidential elections. Catherine Elton has more on this story from

Guatemala City

TEXT: With the majority of the votes counted in Guatemalas provinces and all the

votes counted in the capital and surrounding areas, Mr. Berger maintains a

comfortable lead over rival Alvaro Colom.

Mayor Berger and Mr. Colom faced off in run-off round Sunday, after none of the 11

candidates in the November ninth presidential elections won the 50

percent of the votes needed to win the presidency.

Observers say the trend is irreversible at this point. However, Mr. Colom -- who

had been confident of winning, despite poor showing in the opinion

polls -- refused to concede, Sunday night.

Mr. Coloms spokesperson -- Ramiro MacDonald -- held a news conference, after

preliminary results were released. He talked to journalists in a Guatemala

City hotel lobby, many floors below the penthouse salon his party had rented

for an expected victory celebration.

// SPANISH ACTUALITY, IN AND UNDER //

He says Mr. Colom is refusing to concede because he wants to

wait for the final results, later Monday.

Mr. MacDonald says his party recognizes the trend is unfavorable,

but says the party will wait till the end to comment.

Still, Mr. Berger claimed victory and celebrated with his supporters outside

his party headquarters, late Sunday night.

The new president assumes power January 14th and will face a challenging

job leading a nation plagued with runaway crime, extreme poverty and high

unemployment rates. (signed)

NEB / CE / WD