Near final returns by Rome's municipality show conservative candidate Gianni Alemanno has taken 53.5 percent of the vote, versus 46.4 percent for Francesco Rutelli, a former two-time center-left Rome mayor.

The conservative candidate entered the race as the underdog, but successfully rode the momentum of Silvio Berlusconi's triumph in national elections two weeks ago to win the runoff against Rutelli that took place Sunday and Monday.

Until now, the Italian capital has been governed mainly by Christian Democrat or leftist administrations.

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