Liberal Party clear victor in Colombia elections

Colombia's ruling Liberal Party emerged the clear winner of last Sunday's national, provincial, and municipal elections. With 72 percent of the votes counted, officials said the Liberals received 55 percent of the vote, their Conservative allies 41 percent, and the legal left-wing parties about 2 percent.

Calls by guerrillas for an election boycott apparently failed. Voter turnout ranged from 43 to 67 percent, about average for the last 25 years.

Presidential elections are scheduled for May 22.