Brazil: Far-right candidate Bolsanaro wins presidential poll

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential elections, signalling a political shift for South America's most populous nation and largest economy.

Official results gave Bolsonaro a 56 percent share of the vote in Sunday's runoff, comfortably ahead of Fernando Haddad, the candidate of the centre-left Workers' Party (PT), who had 44 percent.

Bolsonaro gave an internet address via Facebook Live, shunning a traditional press conference because of security concerns. In September, he suffered a near fatal stabbing at a campaign rally.

"We could no longer be flirting with socialism, communism, populism and extremism on the left," he said.

"My government would be a defender of democracy and the constitution. This is not the promise of a party, nor the word of a man. It is an oath before God." he added.

"The commitment I assumed with the Brazilian people was to create a decent government, committed to the country and the people. And I guarantee you that I will," he went on to tell his cheering supporters.

"We will change Brazil's destiny together."

Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump - whom he has expressed admiration for - called to wish him good luck after his victory in what he called "obviously a very friendly contact".

Supporters wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Bolsonaro's face and Brazil's yellow and green national colours assembled outside his house in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.

In Sao Paulo, supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista, the city's main thoroughfare, with flags and banners that read Bolsonaro's "Brazil above everything, God above everyone" slogan.

Bolsonaro's victory constitutes a markedly rightwards swing in the largest democracy in Latin America, which was governed by the left-wing Workers' Party for 13 years between 2003 and 2016.

For the past two years, the country has been led by a conservative, Michel Temer, following the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. But Temer has proven deeply unpopular with Brazilians