President Leonel Fernandez delivers a speech in Santo Domingo, 17 May 2008

Voters in the Dominican Republic have reelected President Leonel Fernandez for a third term.

Runner-up - Social Democrat Miguel Vargas - conceded defeat in a short statement late Friday before counting had even been completed and results officially announced.

Mr. Fernandez, widely credited for an economic recovery in the Caribbean country, had been expected to beat his six rivals and win a third term. He garnered more than 50 percent of the vote in Friday's elections enough to avoid a runoff.

Dominican officials say the election generally went smoothly and was largely peaceful, though the campaign had been marked by some violence.

Three people, including a former lawmaker, were killed Wednesday in a clash between supporters of Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Vargas.

Voting in the election also took place in the U.S. cities of Miami and New York, where Mr. Fernandez grew up, as well as in other countries with large expatriate communities.

Mr. Fernandez served as president from 1996 to 2000, and was elected again in 2004.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.