Aides of the Seychelles' main opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan conceded defeat on Sunday in a presidential race against incumbent President James Michel, local media reported.

Ramkalawan, who lost the presidential election for the fourth time, accepted defeat and said he would not challenge the results.

However, he had hoped the outcome could be a different way and accused Michel's ruling Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) of electoral misconduct, including vote-buying.

In the meantime, Ramkalawan called on the president-elect to fulfill his words sincerely as he has promised in the last two years and to give every Seychellois opportunities to be what he wants to be.

He said "I just hope that he is sincere when he says he wants to work for every Seychellois...Unfortunately, we have heard these nice sounding words before but they have not amounted to much."

Initial reports from international observers showed that the polls had been largely free and fair.

Michel scooped up 30,119 votes, or 53.73 percent of the valid ballots, against opposition leader Ramkalawan's 25,626 votes, or 45.71 percent.

The turnout was about 86 percent in the tiny country with a population estimated at 81,541.

Source: Xinhua