World Uruguay opposition claims victory in presidential vote, official candidate concedes

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguay's conservative opposition party claimed victory as the official count of Sunday's presidential election concluded on Thursday, and the candidate of the governing party conceded defeat.

© Reuters/MARIANA GREIF Second round of general election in Uruguay

First, there was a tweet from the opposition National Party saying its candidate Luis Lacalle Pou had won the election. Minutes later, also by way of Twitter, Daniel Martinez of the ruling Broad Front party conceded defeat.

"We congratulate president elect Luis Lacalle Pou, with whom I will meet tomorrow," Martinez tweeted.

Bolivia's Congress to vote on proposal for new elections: official

Bolivia's Congress will vote on a proposal Saturday that could open the door to new elections in the crisis-hit country, as the caretaker government prepares to meet with protesters to end weeks of unrest. In a potential breakthrough in the crisis, the government announced late Friday that it would meet with various opposition groups at the presidential palace on Saturday afternoon. They hope to strike an agreement to "pacify the country," Public Works Minister Yerko Nunez told reporters.

In a region undergoing political upheaval, Uruguay's swing to the right marks a shift in the farm-driven South American nation, known for its cattle ranches and liberal policies on legalized marijuana and abortion rights.

Broad Front, the ruling party for 15 years, has overseen a period of stability and growth. But it came under pressure recently from a slowing economy caused in part by global trade woes and bad crop weather that dented the key farm sector.

(Reporting by Fabian werner; Writing by Hugh Bronstein and Eliana Raszewski; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Daniel Wallis)