Likely Dominican victor plans US, European visit

Salvador Jorge Blanco, of the Dominican Republic's governing Dominican Revolutionary Party, claimed victory Monday in presidential elections. Early returns gave Mr. Jorge Blanco 48.6 percent of the vote, against 34.7 percent for his main rival, Joaquin Balaguer of the opposition Reformist Party. The likely victor announced he plans to visit the United States and Europe to meet foreign leaders before taking office Aug. 16.