Amman  - The chief editor of the pro-government al-Rai daily, Abdul Wahab Zgheilat, was Friday declared the uncontested president of the Jordan Press Association (JPA).

Zgheilat won the title after his key rival Seif al-Sharif, Director General of the independent daily al-Dustour withdrew. He had decided to quit the race after spotting irregularities in the first round of voting held on April 25.

The first round of elections witnessed a quarrel between supporters of the two main contenders that resulted in the injury of one of al-Dustour editors.

A third contender for the JPA presidency, former chief editor of the state-run Petra news agency Omar Abanda, withdrew on April 25.

None of the three candidates managed to garner the required 319 votes to become head of the syndicate in the first round.

That prompted the temporary election committee to leave the voting session for the JPA president open till the second round which was supposed to take place on Friday. (dpa)