DHAKA: Indonesia’s top court has upheld Joko Widodo’s victory in July’s presidential elections, rejecting an appeal against the result by defeated candidate Prabowo Subianto.

The constitutional court unanimously agreed to reject the appeal, reports the BBC.

Widodo won the poll by a 6% margin but Subianto claimed widespread electoral fraud.

Hundreds of Subianto’s supporters gathered outside the court ahead of the verdict.

Subianto’s team said they would accept the ruling of the constitutional court, which is the highest authority in the country.

Subianto is a former army general closely associated with the traditional elite, while Widodo, a former furniture-maker who grew up in a small village, has promised a decisive break with Indonesia’s authoritarian past and better social welfare for the poor.

Widodo’s win was seen as heralding a new era for Indonesia, whose leaders have generally been drawn from the military and political elite.

BDST: 2300 HRS, AUG 21, 2014