LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Exit polls from Bolivia's presidential election showed on Monday a populist former mayor and rightist ex-president vying for first place and a surge in support for an Indian leader criticized by the United States for his defense of cocaine farming.

If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the decision on a new leader is to be made by Congress no later than Aug. 3. the change of power is due on Aug. 6.

Exit polls on Sunday's vote showed former Cochabamba mayor and army captain Manfred Reyes and former president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada vying for first place; each drew about 22 percent of the vote, Reuters reported.

Coca farming leader Evo Morales, who wants to legalize the raw material used to make cocaine, appeared to be in third place, which could make min a power broker in Congress. Morales made a name for himself leading violent protests against U.S.-led erradication programs.

Several top contenders could be president if they forged alliances among newly-elected legislators before Congress meets to elect Bolivia's leader.

But polls showed growing support for Indian movements and populist leaders as a four-year economic slump sparked a backlash in Bolivia, one of the Western hemisphere's poorest nations.

The country has been a showcase of market reforms and a key ally in Washington's fight against drug-trafficking.

In this "Tibet" of Latin America -- three times the size of the United Kingdom -- highland Indians outnumber people of mixed European-descent, who make up most of the elite, by three to one.

Reyes promises more state spending and doubling the budget for the armed forces.

Lozada, 72, is a pro-market, U.S. educated reformer with an American accent. He opened up this landlocked South American nation of 8 million people to foreign investment in the 1990s.

First official counts were due to trickle out on Monday but the final tally might not be known for days.

To the fury of most Bolivians, U.S. Ambassador Manuel Rocha warned Bolivians that voting for Morales could threaten U.S. aid to Bolivia, hugely dependent on foreign financing.

"The U.S. ambassador must be regretting having been so arrogant," Morales, who makes a habit of chewing coca on the campaign trail, said after the vote.

With former leftist guerrilla Felipe Quispe, another Indian leader and presidential contender, winning nearly five percent of the vote, radical indigenous movements looked set to control a fifth of congress. At the last election they won almost no seats.

With the election heading to Congress, where a candidate must get two thirds of the votes to become president, Morales, 42, could have a key role choosing Bolivia's next leader or leading congressional opposition to any government.

Cocaine production in Bolivia, once only second to Colombia, has plummeted -- costing it an estimated $500 million a year in lost revenues and worsening poverty of thousands of farmers.

Outgoing rightist President Jorge Quiroga will hand over power on Aug 6.

bc-bolivia-elections (picture) bolivia-elections (picture):mayor, ex-president lead bolivia vote, coca grower surges by alistair scrutton la paz, bolivia, july 1 (reuters) - exit polls from bolivia's presidential election showed on monday a populist former mayor and rightist ex-president vying for first place and a surge in support for an indian leader criticized by the united states for his defense of cocaine farming.

if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the decision on a new leader is to be made by congress no later than aug. 3. the change of power is due on aug. 6.

exit polls on sunday's vote showed former cochabamba mayor and army captain manfred reyes and former president gonzalo sanchez de lozada vying for first place; each drew about 22 percent of the vote.

coca farming leader evo morales, who wants to legalize the raw material used to make cocaine, appeared to be in third place, which could make min a power broker in congress. morales made a name for himself leading violent protests against u.s.-led erradication programs.

several top contenders could be president if they forged alliances among newly-elected legislators before congress meets to elect bolivia's leader.

but polls showed growing support for indian movements and populist leaders as a four-year economic slump sparked a backlash in bolivia, one of the western hemisphere's poorest nations.

the country has been a showcase of market reforms and a key ally in washington's fight against drug-trafficking.

in this "tibet" of latin america -- three times the size of the united kingdom -- highland indians outnumber people of mixed european-descent, who make up most of the elite, by three to one.

reyes promises more state spending and doubling the budget for the armed forces.

lozada, 72, is a pro-market, u.s. educated reformer with an american accent. he opened up this landlocked south american nation of 8 million people to foreign investment in the 1990s.

first official counts were due to trickle out on monday but the final tally might not be known for days.

to the fury of most bolivians, u.s. ambassador manuel rocha warned bolivians that voting for morales could threaten u.s.

aid to bolivia, hugely dependent on foreign financing.

"the us ambassador must be regretting having been so arrogant," morales, who makes a habit of chewing coca on the campaign trail, said after the vote.

with former leftist guerrilla felipe quispe, another indian leader and presidential contender, winning nearly five percent of the vote, radical indigenous movements looked set to control a fifth of congress. at the last election they won almost no seats.

with the election heading to congress, where a candidate must get two thirds of the votes to become president, morales, 42, could have a key role choosing bolivia's next leader or leading congressional opposition to any government.

cocaine production in bolivia, once only second to colombia, has plummeted -- costing it an estimated $500 million a year in lost revenues and worsening poverty of thousands of farmers.

outgoing rightist president jorge quiroga will hand over power on aug 6.