Major wins in Britain

LONDON -- Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major was assured today of becoming Britain's next prime minister after both rivals in a Conservative Party leadership election conceded victory to him.

Major won 185 votes, two less than the simple majority required for election. Former Defense Secretary Michael Heseltine had 131 votes; Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd had 56 votes.

Hurd said that the party rules required a third ballot, even though he and Heseltine had conceded that Major would be the winner.

Earlier story on Page A4.