Fujimori concedes defeat in Peru presidential vote

Lima: Keiko Fujimori Saturday conceded defeat to former Wall Street banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in Peru's photo-finish presidential election, ending five days of legal wrangling that had left the result up in the air.

"In a democratic spirit, we accept these results," Fujimori said, flanked by members of her Popular Force party, who will have a majority in congress from late July.

Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced and jailed former president Alberto Fujimori, had until now refused to give up even though political analysts, statisticians and some members of her own party said it would be impossible for the court challenges to put her on top.

Kuczynski has forged ahead cautiously, sounding triumphant but stopping short of declaring victory.

He called for unity in a country left torn by the election, in which he took 50.12 per cent to Fujimori's 49.88 per cent.

"It's time to work together for the future of our country," Kuczynski said yesterday after the full -- but not yet final -- result came down.