Benin's new president announced

[XXPANTHAXX]

Officials in Benin have announced that Yayi Boni is the country's new
leader.

Mr Boni won almost 75% of the vote in Sunday's run-off presidential
election with Adrien Houngbedji, the country's election commission said.

He will be sworn in on 6 April to replace long-time leader Mathieu
Kerekou, whose age made him ineligible to stand again.

The election had some irregularities but international monitors
pronounced them largely free and fair.

Voters thanked

Mr Boni said on Wednesday he would build a government of "young, clean,
just and new men" to tackle poverty and corruption.

The election commission said Mr Boni, a former development banker, won
1,969,308 votes on Sunday compared to 673,763 for Mr Houngbedji, a
former speaker of the national assembly.

Turnout was 67%, compared to 70% for the first round on 5 March.

Sylvain Nouwatin, head of Benin's electoral commission, thanked voters
for the ordered election process, saying: "Democracy is the sole
winner."

Sunday's second round was a scramble for organisers because Mr Kerekou
ignored a constitutional court ruling to postpone the run-off for three
days.