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| Aceh votes in landmark elections | Aceh votes in landmark elections |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Indonesia's Aceh province has held elections for local leaders in the region's first direct polls. | |
| The elections for the posts of governor and deputy governor are part of a peace deal signed with separatist rebels after 29 years of war left 15,000 dead. | The elections for the posts of governor and deputy governor are part of a peace deal signed with separatist rebels after 29 years of war left 15,000 dead. |
| Rebels in Aceh gave up a demand for independence after winning autonomy and the right to participate fully in democratic elections. | Rebels in Aceh gave up a demand for independence after winning autonomy and the right to participate fully in democratic elections. |
| Much of Aceh was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. | Much of Aceh was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. |
| The scale of the disaster - which killed 170,000 people in Aceh - spurred the rebels and the government into peace talks. | |
| But now eight pairs of candidates have contested for the positions of governor and vice-governor. District heads were also up for election. | |
| If Gam wins, well good for them - that's democracy, everyone's ready to accept that Azwar Akubakar Former fighters face ballot | If Gam wins, well good for them - that's democracy, everyone's ready to accept that Azwar Akubakar Former fighters face ballot |
| Turnout was expected to be high among Aceh's 2.6 million registered voters. | Turnout was expected to be high among Aceh's 2.6 million registered voters. |
| The BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Aceh, says many people never expected to be electing their own representatives, and there is a real hope that this election will bring people the peace and prosperity they were promised. | The BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Aceh, says many people never expected to be electing their own representatives, and there is a real hope that this election will bring people the peace and prosperity they were promised. |
| "We're here to vote for the leader of Aceh for the first time," Badriah Ali, a 35-year-old civil servant told the Reuters news agency. | "We're here to vote for the leader of Aceh for the first time," Badriah Ali, a 35-year-old civil servant told the Reuters news agency. |
| "I hope by choosing one with sincerity the leader can bring peace to Aceh." | "I hope by choosing one with sincerity the leader can bring peace to Aceh." |
| Ballots not bullets | Ballots not bullets |
| Former members of the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) and an ex-army general are among those standing for election, as well as representatives from the powerful Indonesian party, Golkar. | Former members of the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) and an ex-army general are among those standing for election, as well as representatives from the powerful Indonesian party, Golkar. |
| Former Gam fighter Muhammad Nazar said there is "no other choice" for the ex-fighters but to take part in the election. | Former Gam fighter Muhammad Nazar said there is "no other choice" for the ex-fighters but to take part in the election. |
| "We must have control of the executive, form a local party, control the legislature... no longer with weapons," he told the AFP news agency. | "We must have control of the executive, form a local party, control the legislature... no longer with weapons," he told the AFP news agency. |
| "This is not to end the struggle but to alter it from an armed conflict to political institutions which are more conducive," | "This is not to end the struggle but to alter it from an armed conflict to political institutions which are more conducive," |
| Previously, Aceh's governor and deputy governor were appointed by the Indonesian central government in Jakarta. | Previously, Aceh's governor and deputy governor were appointed by the Indonesian central government in Jakarta. |
| The incumbent governor, Azwar Akubakar, hopes to be elected to his post, but also congratulated Gam on the switch "from bullets to ballots". | The incumbent governor, Azwar Akubakar, hopes to be elected to his post, but also congratulated Gam on the switch "from bullets to ballots". |
| "And if Gam wins, well good for them. That's democracy. Everyone's ready to accept that," he told the Associated Press. | "And if Gam wins, well good for them. That's democracy. Everyone's ready to accept that," he told the Associated Press. |
| Preliminary results are expected to be announced on Monday. No candidate is expected to gain enough votes to win outiright, triggering a second round early next year. |