PRETORIA, April 17: The ruling African National Congress party won 69.68 per cent of the vote in South Africa's third democratic elections, its biggest win in 10 years of power, the Independent Electoral Commission said on Saturday.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance was way behind with 12.37 per cent of the ballot and the Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party was in third place with 6.97 per cent, according to figures released by the commission.

The commission said turnout at 76.73 per cent was much lower than the previous two democratic elections of 1994 and 1999.

The United Democratic Movement, led by former African National Congres heavyweight Bantu Holomisa, garnered 2.28 per cent of the vote, followed by the newly-formed Independent Democrats with 1.73 per cent.

The main loser was the New National Party, a reincarnation of the party which formed the backbone of apartheid South Africa, which got only 1.65 per cent of the vote.-AFP