2nd LD Writethru: Uzbek Prime Minister Mirziyoyev elected president: Central Election Commission

Uzbek Prime Minister and acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected the country's president in Sunday's presidential election with an overwhelming vote, according to the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan.

Mirziyoyev won 88.61 percent of the votes, well above the required over 50 percent of valid ballots to become a president, the commission said at a press briefing held at 4:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT).

The other three presidential candidates shared the rest of the votes, with Sarwar Otamuratov of the National Revival Democratic Party scoring 2.35 percent, Hotamzhon Ketmonov of the People's Democratic Party 3.73 percent and Narimon Umarov of the "Adolat" (Justice) Social Democratic Party 3.46 percent.

About 18 million people or some 88 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots, which outnumbered the validity threshold of 33 percent, said the chairman of the commission, Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, adding that no violations were reported in the presidential election.

About 500 observers from nearly 50 countries monitored the election, along with several international organizations including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

According to Uzbek law, the newly-elected president will serve a five-year term, according to a 2011 constitutional amendment which shortens the presidential tenure from seven years.

Mirziyoyev, 59, has served as Uzbek Prime Minister since 2003. After late Uzbek President Islam Karimov died on Sept. 2, he was named as the country's acting president by the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Uzbek parliament. Endi