Frei victory

Santiago - The ruling coalition candidate Eduardo Frei won Chile's presidential election yesterday with 63.8 per cent of the vote, according to an exit poll issued by Television Nacional. Mr Frei's nearest rival, the right-wing candidate Arturo Alessandri, took 21.8 per cent of the vote. The elections were the first since President Patricio Aylwin took power in 1990, ending 17 years of military rule under General Augusto Pinochet. Mr Aylwin, a Christian Democrat like Mr Frei, will hand over the presidency in March. Reuter