Evo Morales, the presidential candidate for the left-wing Socialist Movement, shakes hands with his supporters in La Paz, Bolivia, Dec. 18, 2005.  (Xinhua Photo)

LA PAZ, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Leftist activist Evo Morales has claimed a decisive victory in Bolivia's presidential election, as exit polls showed the indigenous candidate had garnered 51 percent of the vote late Sunday.

    "We have won," the former coca farmer said to a rally of thousands of cheering supporters. "We already have 50 percent plusone," said Morales in a reference to the majority needed to win outright in the first round.

    Meanwhile, his right-wing chief rival, ex-president Jorge Quiroga, conceded defeat. Two separate exit polls showed Morales had a 20-point lead over Quiroga.

    The United States has expended much energy in attempting to smash the coca-leaf growing industry in Bolivia, the world's third largest cocaine-producing nation after Colombia and Peru.

    However, Morales, 46, has vowed to legalize coca-leaf growing for traditional uses such as tea, and pledged to nationalize the country's rich natural gas resources.

    Morales said he was opposed to cocaine trafficking but defends the right to grow coca leaf. Enditem