With 97.7 per cent of the vote counted, 50.6 per cent of Puerto Ricans had yesterday chosen ``none of the above'' on the ballots, an option advocated by the opposition popular Democratic Party which is in favour of maintaining the status quo of a commonwealth.

The campaign to turn the island into the 51st American state, fronted by Governor Pedro Rossello, trailed in a close second with 46.5 per cent, according to the election commission.

However, Rossello, who did not recognise the ``none of the above'' option, insisted that statehood had won. The other two key options: independence and `free association' (commonwealth status with extra rights) failed to muster much support with only 2.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent of the votes respectively.

The election commission said 71 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots. The outcome was ablow to Rossello, who led the push for statehood in a referendum that was said to be too close to call.