Bolivian President Evo Morales agreed on Saturday to an audit of this week's election. Morales was officially declared the winner on Friday, but protests erupted as the EU and other international bodies called for a second runoff vote.

Morales' main contender Carlos Mesa rejected Morales' victory and described the vote as fraudulent. On Saturday he described the election as a "result of fraud and a breach of the popular will."

Morales said on Friday he will "invite the foreign minister of Argentina, the foreign minister of Brazil, the foreign minister of Colombia plus the United States to come let's do an audit vote by vote. If there's fraud we'll convene a second-round."

However, the incumbent president refused to confirm that he would accept the result of such an audit as legally binding.

Under Bolivian electoral procedure, a president must receive more than 50% of the vote or lead by ten points in order to avoid a runoff. According to the official results, Morales claimed 47.07% of the vote while Mesa took second place with 36.51%, narrowly avoiding the need for a runoff.

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Brazil, US and EU push for audit

Only Venzuela, Cuba and Mexico have sent official congratulations to Morales, with the United States, the European Union and Brazil among the countries that pushed him to allow a runoff.

Protesters blocked roads in parts of the capital of La Paz on Saturday to voice their dissatisfaction with the voting process.

Brazil is one of Bolivia's main trading partners, and said they would not recognize the result of the election until an official audit had taken place.

Socialist Morales has been president of Bolivia since 2006 and is one of Latin America's longest-serving leaders, as well as one of the first with indigenous roots.

ed/aw (AFP, Reuters)

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