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Macedonia votes for new president Ivanov leads Macedonia elections
(about 13 hours later)
The people of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia are voting in the final round of a presidential election. Conservative Gjorgje Ivanov has taken a strong lead in a presidential run-off in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, officials say.
The run-off pits frontrunner Gjorgje Ivanov from the governing party VMRO-DPMNE against Ljubomir Frckoski from the main opposition party, the SDSM. With over 55% of ballots counted, he had almost double the votes of Social Democrat rival Ljubomir Frckoski.
President Branko Crvenkovski is not seeking a second term. Some 1.8m people are eligible to vote in the election. President Branko Crvenkovski is not seeking a second term. Some 1.8m people were eligible to vote in the election.
The vote is considered to be important in helping to move the country towards European Union and Nato membership.The vote is considered to be important in helping to move the country towards European Union and Nato membership.
Both organisations have said progress towards membership will depend on Sunday's election meeting international standards.Both organisations have said progress towards membership will depend on Sunday's election meeting international standards.
A parliamentary vote last year was marred by violence, with one person being shot dead and several others wounded in an ethnic Albanian area.A parliamentary vote last year was marred by violence, with one person being shot dead and several others wounded in an ethnic Albanian area.
Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted in to guarantee the vote passes peacefully. Low turn-out
Hundreds of extra police officers were drafted in to ensure the vote passed off peacefully.
In a first round of voting praised by the EU for its lack of violence, Mr Ivanov polled the most votes, but not enough for a victory.In a first round of voting praised by the EU for its lack of violence, Mr Ivanov polled the most votes, but not enough for a victory.
A crucial factor in Sunday's election will be turnout, says the BBC's Balkans correspondent, Helen Fawkes. With more than half of the run-off votes counted, he was leading by 206,717 votes to Mr Frckoski's 105,655, the election commission said.
If less than 40% of voters take part, she adds, the poll will have to be repeated from scratch. Turn-out was put at 40.24%, just passing the 40% threshold needed for the polls to be valid.
The winner of Sunday's run-off will hold the largely ceremonial post for a five-year term. Whoever is elected will hold the largely ceremonial post for a five-year term.
It is hoped the new president will help Macedonia resolve the long running dispute with Greece over the country's name which has blocked its entry to Nato, says our correspondent. It is hoped the new president will help Macedonia resolve a long-running dispute with Greece over the country's name which has blocked its entry to Nato, correspondents say.
Last year, Greece said it would block Macedonia from joining Nato and the EU unless it compromised over its official name. Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece.Last year, Greece said it would block Macedonia from joining Nato and the EU unless it compromised over its official name. 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.