Newly-elected President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias waves to supporters in Nicosia February 24, 2008. Communist leader Christofias won Cyprus presidential elections on Sunday, official results showed, as his right-wing rival Ioannis Kassoulides conceded defeat. [Photo: Reuters]

Cyprus Parliament Speaker and General Secretary of the left-wing AKEL Demetris Christofias won a crucial runoff and was proclaimed the island state's new president on Sunday night.

Obtaining 53.36 percent of all the valid votes, Christofias defeated his rival right-wing backed former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who has conceded his defeat.

This is the first time that the Communist-Party-turned AKEL put forward its won candidate for the presidency.

Christofias was proclaimed president of the Cyprus Republic Sunday night by the country's Chief Returning Officer at an indoor stadium packed with thousands of jubilant supporters, waving Cyprus' national flags and portraits of Che Guevara, the Latin American legend.

Christofias and Kasoulides, both more conciliatory towards Turkish Cypriot, had knocked out the incumbent President Tassos Papadopoulos, a hard-liner in reunification talks, in the neck-and- neck first round poll on Feb. 17.

Christofias successfully rallied two other parties supporting the outgoing President Papadopoulos behind him in the second round.

Speaking to cheering supporters after the proclamation, Christofias vowed to fight for a just settlement of the Cyprus problem and called on the Turkish Cypriots to cooperate for the common goal.

"As president of the Republic of Cyprus, I have the responsibility of uniting and representing all the citizens," Christofias said.

"We have a clear vision, a vision to reunite our Cyprus," he added, pledging to turn Cyprus into "a happy homeland for all its children, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots."

According to Turkish Cypriot media, their leader Mehmet Ali Talat has called Christofias, the new Greek Cypriot leader, to congratulate him on his election victory.

The two leaders have reportedly agreed to meet and discuss their forthcoming talks on how to revive the deadlocked negotiations.

Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers who pushed for a union with Greece.

In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared a breakaway territory and set up the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey.

In a referendum held in April 2004, Greek Cypriot under the leadership of Papadopoulos rejected the Annan Plan for fear that it would be in Turkey's favor, while Turkish Cypriot approved it.

After the presidential election, fresh efforts to revive the deadlocked reunification process are expected by both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.