Celebrations in Ecuador as President Rafael Correa claims re-election.

Preliminary ballot results show the leftist president ahead in the polls with a clear lead of 57 percent of votes.

SOUNDBITE: RAFAEL CORREA, ECUADOR PRESIDENT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, SAYING (Spanish):

This victory is yours, it belongs to our families, our wives, our children, our friends, our neighbours, the entire country. We are here to serve you. Nothing for ourselves; it's all for you, a dignified and free people. Long live our country!"

Across Ecuador final votes are being counted, but analysts say the president is predicted an easy win.

Correa has been in power since 2007, and is already the longest serving president since democracy returned in the 1970s.

He's won strong support among the poor by using booming oil revenues to build schools and hospitals.