Peru election result close as vote counting continues

Peru's presidential election is stuck in a statistical tie, according to an early tally by the pollster Ipsos, echoing previous elections that have dragged on for days or even weeks.

It put the left-wing Roberto Sánchez on a marginal lead of 50.3% of the vote, compared with the right-wing Keiko Fujimori on 49.7%. While not an official count, the tally has been an accurate indicator of the final result in previous polls.

Official results confirm the race is extremely tight with more than 85% of votes counted.

The election pits Fujimori, a mainstay of Peruvian politics, against Sánchez, who is promising broad economic reforms. Concerns over crime and political instability have dominated the race.

Recounts will likely be needed to confirm the winner, a process that could take weeks.

Ipsos showed Fujimori dominating the capital Lima, carrying the urban vote and the coast, while Sánchez swept the rural vote and the mountainous Andes regions. Sánchez is expected to gain ground as ballots from rural areas are tallied.

Sánchez told supporters the early count was an "important lead that reaffirms the will of the people, who want democracy and justice."

Fujimori, on the other hand, said the result showed a "dead heat" and that there will be long "days ahead" to declare a winner.