Lukashenko wins Belarusian presidential election: CEC

 Incumbent Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has won the Sunday presidential election, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) citing preliminary results; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

CEC head Lidia Yermoshina told reporters that according to the so-called "closed" areas, Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory with the support of nearly 90 percent of voters.

"Closed" areas were located in hospitals, nursing homes and military units.

The president mustered 89.1 percent of the votes counted, said Yermoshina, adding that "closed areas tend to make the election better than any poll."

Some 70,000 people voted at these closed stations, she added.

Meanwhile, exit polls confirmed Lukashenko's victory. According to the ECOOM analytical center, Lukashenko garnered 79.1 percent of votes. Another exit poll conducted by the TNS-Ukraine company said he mustered 74.2 percent of ballots.

On the other hand, several thousands of Belarusians have gathered around the October Square in downtown Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, protesting against the rigged election, Xinhua correspondents reported from the scene; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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