Guatemala City, Aug 12 (AFP) Conservative candidate Alejandro Giammattei declared victory in Sunday's run-off presidential election in Guatemala, holding a major lead with the results from more than 90 percent of polling stations counted.

Giammattei had almost 60 percent of the vote to former first lady and social democrat Sandra Torres's 40 percent in their bid to succeed corruption-tainted Jimmy Morales.

"The aim is fulfilled," said Giammattei. The central American country's next president will be under immense pressure from the United States to implement a controversial migration pact that would allow Washington to send most Honduran and Salvadoran asylum seekers who passed through Guatemala back to the poor, crime-stricken country.

The two candidates had both avoided committing to strong positions on the US deal.

Corruption was the main issue leading up to the first round of elections in June -- which Torres topped -- but that has been superseded by the political scandal over the migration deal.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)