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Security tight for Macedonia vote Security tight as Macedonia votes
(about 13 hours later)
Macedonians are voting in presidential and local polls seen as critical to the country's EU and Nato membership bids, amid stringent security. Macedonians have voted in presidential and local polls seen as critical to the country's EU and Nato membership bids, amid stringent security.
Thousands of extra police have been deployed to avoid a repeat of violence that marred elections last year. Thousands of extra police were deployed and the electoral commission said voting went well during the day.
The EU's envoy to Macedonia said the vote was the last chance in a long time for the country to prove it could hold elections to international standards. There were no reports of the kind of violence between rival ethnic Albanian parties that marred last June's parliamentary election.
"So far, so good," was US Ambassador Philip Reeker's assessment of the day.
A dispute with Greece over its name has also threatened its EU and Nato bids.A dispute with Greece over its name has also threatened its EU and Nato bids.
Polls opened at 0700 (0600 GMT) after a weekend of heavy snowfall in the north and west of the country which observes believed could disrupt the voting.
Run-off expectedRun-off expected
According to opinion polls, Gjorgje Ivanov, of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's governing conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, has about a 10-point lead over Ljubomir Frckoski, who is backed by the Social Democratic SDSM.According to opinion polls, Gjorgje Ivanov, of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's governing conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, has about a 10-point lead over Ljubomir Frckoski, who is backed by the Social Democratic SDSM.
Five other candidates are also running for the largely ceremonial presidency, including former Interior Minister Ljube Boskoski, who was acquitted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague last year.Five other candidates are also running for the largely ceremonial presidency, including former Interior Minister Ljube Boskoski, who was acquitted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague last year.
This is probably the last opportunity for quite some time for the country to show that it has not only the capacity, but also the political will, to organise elections in line with international standards Erwan FouereEU envoy to MacedoniaThis is probably the last opportunity for quite some time for the country to show that it has not only the capacity, but also the political will, to organise elections in line with international standards Erwan FouereEU envoy to Macedonia
Current President Branko Crvenkovski is not running for a second term.Current President Branko Crvenkovski is not running for a second term.
Neither of the frontrunners is expected to gain the absolute majority needed to avoid a run-off vote on 5 April.Neither of the frontrunners is expected to gain the absolute majority needed to avoid a run-off vote on 5 April.
The 1.8 million eligible voters in the former Yugoslav republic will also elect the mayors of 85 communities. Heavy snowfall prevented 134 of almost 3,000 polling stations from opening.
But Aleksandar Novakovski, head of the state electoral commission, said the affected polling stations had 12,556 voters registered - less than 1% of the total 1.8 million eligible voters.
Voting there would be repeated in two weeks' time.
Turnout at 1700 stood at 48.7% and there had been no official complaints of irregularities.
"I'm generally satisfied with the election process until now. Everything is going well," Mr Novakovski said.
Local polls were also being held simultaneously to elect mayors for 85 communities.
First preliminary results are expected during the night, with final results due to be announced in the coming day.
"So far so good"
The three weeks of campaigning passed off mostly peacefully, with a few claims of voter intimidation.The three weeks of campaigning passed off mostly peacefully, with a few claims of voter intimidation.
One person was killed and several injured in ethnic Albanian areas of Macedonia during parliamentary elections in June 2008 that monitors said fell short of international standards.One person was killed and several injured in ethnic Albanian areas of Macedonia during parliamentary elections in June 2008 that monitors said fell short of international standards.
More than 500 international and around 7,000 local observers are on hand to monitor Sunday's vote. More than 500 international and around 7,000 local observers have been on hand to monitor Sunday's vote.
Macedonian and European officials urged voters to carry off a peaceful election. "So far so good," US Ambassador Philip Reeker said during the day, giving his first assessment on the electoral process.
"We will do everything in our power in line with the law and police authority to enable the citizens to vote peacefully and without pressure," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said.
The EU's envoy in Skopje, Erwan Fouere, said the vote was "the last chance not to miss the train again to EU" membership.The EU's envoy in Skopje, Erwan Fouere, said the vote was "the last chance not to miss the train again to EU" membership.
"This is probably the last opportunity for quite some time for the country to show that it has not only the capacity, but also the political will, to organise elections in line with international standards," he said."This is probably the last opportunity for quite some time for the country to show that it has not only the capacity, but also the political will, to organise elections in line with international standards," he said.
Last year, Greece said it would block Macedonia from joining Nato and the EU unless it compromises over its official name.Last year, Greece said it would block Macedonia from joining Nato and the EU unless it compromises over its official name.
Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece.Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece.
In December 2008, Macedonia decided to take the issue of its name to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.In December 2008, Macedonia decided to take the issue of its name to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.