Rajapaksa wins Sri Lankan re-election, opposition rejects results

Sri Lankans have made their choice between the war president and the war general. Incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa has won re-election in a historic post-civil war vote. But his chief rival is calling the results tainted.

"I announce that Mahinda Rajapaksa has won this presidential election."

According to Sri Lanka's Elections Commission, Rajapaksa won 57.8 percent of the more than 10 million votes cast, giving him another six year term. His closest rival, former army commander General Sarath Fonseka got 40.2 percent.

Rajapaksa's supporters hit the streets in celebration, setting off fireworks, waving Sri Lankan flags and holding up posters of the president.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa gestures as he reacts to a question raised by a journalist during a media briefing at his office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)