Colombia: 62-year-old Gustavo Petro declares victory in presidential election

According to results from the National Electoral Council released after about 98 percent of the ballots were processed, Petro is coming ahead in the second round of the presidential election with 50.51 percent, while 77-year-old businessman Rodolfo Hernandez has 47.22 percent.

"What we are writing at this moment is history, a new history for Colombia, for Latin America and for the world," Petro said on Sunday, stressing that there is now a chance to leave hatred behind and end sectarianism within the society.

In a statement on social media, Petro said that his victory in the election is the first victory of the people.

Incumbent Colombian President Ivan Duque has already congratulated Petro, saying that they had "agreed to meet in the next few days to start a harmonious, institutional and transparent transition."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as well as the leaders of Argentina and Mexico, Alberto Fernandez and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have also congratulated Petro.

Hernandez said in a video address broadcast on social media on Sunday that he accepted the fact that "the majority of citizens have chosen the other candidate."

The presidential election runoff was held in Colombia on Sunday, since none of the contenders managed to get over 50 percent of the votes in the first round held at the end of May.