Ex-defense minister wins Colombia presidential runoff in route over eccentric outsider

Ex-defense minister wins Colombia vote in a rout

BOGOTA, Colombia — Juan Manuel Santos, who as defense minister badly weakened leftist rebels, has won Colombia’s presidential runoff in a rout.

With 75 percent of polling stations reporting, Santos has 69 percent of the votes against 28 percent for former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, an eccentric outsider and Green Party candidate.

In the first round last month, Santos fell just shy of the simple majority needed for victory.

Mockus had catapulted into early contention but stumbled with a series of gaffes that had Colombians questioning his ability to run a country in conflict.

Violence marred Sunday’s vote as seven police officers and three soldiers were killed in separate attacks blamed on leftist rebels.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Early results in Colombia’s presidential runoff elections give a commanding lead to Juan Manuel Santos, who as defense minister struck crippling blows against leftist rebels.

With 10 percent of the vote counted, Santos has 69 percent of the votes against 28 percent for former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, an eccentric outsider and Green Party candidate.

In the first round last month, Santos fell just shy of the simple majority needed for victory.

Mockus had catapulted into early contention but stumbled with a series of gaffes that had Colombians questioning his abilities.

Violence marred Sunday’s vote as seven police officers and three soldiers were killed in separate attacks blamed on leftist rebels.