MONTEVIDEO, Oct. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Uruguay's leftist candidate Tabare Vazquez claimed victory in Sunday's presidential elections as exit polls showing him with more than 50 percent of the votes.

    If his win is confirmed, Vazquez will become the first leftist president of the country.

    Exit polls showed Vazquez, 64, was headed for victory with a 50.9 to 53 percent of the vote, more than the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win in the first-round and avoid a runoff.

    Vazquez was also widely seen as the front-runner in a parliament race against Larranaga of the National Party and Guillermo Stirling of the ruling Colorado party.

    Although final results are expected after 2 a.m. local time (0400GMT) on Monday, Vazquez's two rivals have acknowledged defeat.

    Tabare Vazquez, a Socialist physician who leads the Broad Frontcoalition comprising Socialists, Communists and former Tupamaro guerrillas, is making his third bid for the presidency.

    Vazquez, son of a worker in a state-run fuel company, was the first leftist mayor of Montevideo from 1990 and 1994 in Uruguay's history. Enditem