ECUADOR’S main opposition party refused today to accept the result of Sunday’s presidential election.

The National Electoral Council said the incumbent, Daniel Noboa, a right-wing millionaire, had defeated the protegee of Ecuador’s most influential recent president Rafael Correa for a second time.

Mr Noboa is reported to have received 55.8 per cent of the vote while Luisa Gonzalez of left party Citizen Revolution won 44 per cent.