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Madagascar elects new president Madagascar elects new president
(about 17 hours later)
Voting is under way in Madagascar's presidential election. Votes are being counted in Madagascar's presidential election.
The current leader of the island nation, Marc Ravalomanana, said he expected to win a second term and called on people to turn out and vote.
His 13 rivals include Roland Ratsiraka, the nephew of the former president. No violence has been reported so far.
In the last poll, in 2001, the island nation was pushed to the brink of civil war after then-incumbent Didier Ratsiraka refused to accept defeat.In the last poll, in 2001, the island nation was pushed to the brink of civil war after then-incumbent Didier Ratsiraka refused to accept defeat.
Eventually Mr Ratsiraka went into exile to France and the current leader, Marc Ravalomanana, took over. Eventually, Mr Ratsiraka and many of his ministers went into exile in France, Marc Ravalomanana, took over.
He is widely expected to defeat his challengers. More than 14,000 observers are overseeing the vote, but some have warned of possible fraud. He is widely expected to defeat his challengers.
Mr Ravalomanana, for his part, has said it will be a model of democracy and transparency for Africa and the world. Fraud warnings
His opponents include Roland Ratsiraka, the nephew of the former president. Voting started slowly with people queuing in torrential rain in the capital, Antananarivo. They were asked to choose a card with a photograph of their preferred candidate.
Voters were asked to choose a card showing the face of their candidate
Bad weather caused power cuts in some areas, forcing officials to start counting ballots by candlelight.
Reuters news agency reported that voters burnt a ballot box in the coastal town of Toliara.
More than 14,000 observers are overseeing the vote. Some had warned of possible fraud.
Mr Ravalomanana had promised the ballot would be a model of democracy and transparency for Africa and the world.
"You know very well that it is a challenge for us to hold free, democratic and transparent elections," he told journalists after casting his ballot at a local school.
"I am very proud of the Malagasy wisdom," he added.
Ballot sheets
Mr Ravalomanana, a charismatic dairy tycoon know as "the milkman" needs to win 50% of the vote to avoid a second round run-off against any of the 13 other contenders.
Q&A:Madagascar electionQ&A:Madagascar election
The BBC's Jonny Hogg in Antananarivo says it is unclear whether the president will get the 50% percent of the vote needed to avoid a second-round run off. The BBC's Jonny Hogg in Antananarivo says it is unclear whether he will achieve this.
There has been considerable controversy in the build up to the poll. There has been considerable controversy in the build up to the poll with accusations of unfair access to the media and unconstitutional electoral process.
An election observer told the BBC that ballot sheets for four of the candidates had not arrived at a substantial number of polling stations across the country.
When asked, President Ravalomanana told the BBC that he was not personally responsible and did not see it as a serious problem.
The vice prime minister in the former regime, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, was stopped from returning to the country to enter the race and an army general whose candidature was refused attempted a military overthrow.The vice prime minister in the former regime, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, was stopped from returning to the country to enter the race and an army general whose candidature was refused attempted a military overthrow.
Eight of the candidates subsequently supported the general's actions.
On Saturday, one of them, Pety Rakotoniaina continued to call on his supporters to boycott the ballot.
There has been strong criticism of the government's preparations for the ballot with electoral observers warning of problems with voter lists and possible fraud.