Ramos-Horta declares victory in East Timor presidential election

East Timor presidential candidate Jose Ramos Horta shows his inked finger after casting his ballot during the second round of East Timor's presidential election in Dili, East Timor, April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Lirio da Fonseca

DILI (Reuters) - Independence leader and Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta declared victory in East Timor’s presidential election on Thursday, calling for unity and dialogue after a final count showed he had secured 62% of the vote.

"I have received this mandate from our people, from the nation, in an overwhelming demonstration of our people's commitment to democracy," he told reporters.