Jakarta – The Aceh Party, the leading local party in Aceh whose members mostly include former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatants, claimed winning the popular vote in the province.

"Temporary vote result on Thursday night shows that the Aceh Party won 70 percent votes," said Tengku Adnan Beuransyah, the party spokesman, as quoted by Antara in the province capital Banda Aceh on Friday.

Antara news agency reported that 19 of 21 cities and regencies in the province have reported their vote counting by Thursday night.

The party won 80 to 98 percent votes in from its loyal supporters in Bieruen, North Aceh, East Aceh and Nagan Raya regencies. In other regencies, including Aceh Besar, Southwest Aceh, Gayo Luas and Aceh Singkil, the party won 65 to 75 percent votes. In the province capital Banda Aceh, it won 50 percent of vote.

"We predict that we will have better result after the counting over," said Beuransyah. (dre)