Former Costa Rican president and presidential candidate of the National Liberation Party, Oscar Arias, kisses a supporter as he arrives at a polling station during the presidential election in Pavas near San Jose, Costa Rica, February 5, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    SAN JOSE, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias won Sunday's presidential election in Costa Rica with nearly 45 percent of the votes, above the 40 percent required for a first-round victory, according to the result of TV exit polls.

    If confirmed, the result would mean the 65-year-old Nobel laureate who served as the country's president from 1986 to 1990, will win the presidency without a runoff election. 
    

Former Costa Rican president and presidential candidate of the National Liberation Party, Oscar Arias, speaks to the press after he casts his vote in Pavas near San Jose, Costa Rica, February 5, 2006. (Xinhua)

    Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil conflicts in neighboring Central American countries, and previous opinion polls showed Arias holding a strong lead due to that achievement.

    According to the same exit polls, Arias' major rival Otton Solis was in second place, with 37.3 percent of the ballots. Enditem