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Voting begins in Indonesia poll Indonesians vote in key elections
(about 2 hours later)
Indonesians have begun voting in parliamentary elections, with 38 national parties contesting the polls. Indonesians have been voting in parliamentary elections, with 38 national parties contesting the polls.
Polling is now under way across the country. Earlier, violence erupted in the eastern Papua province, with at least six people reported killed. More than 170 million people were eligible to cast a ballot in a country made up of thousands of islands, many of them in different time zones.
More than 170 million people are eligible to cast a ballot in the elections, which will decide who can run for president in July. The vote decides who can run for president in July. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's party is expected to do well.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's party is expected to do well. At least six people died in election-related violence in Papua province.
Polling stations have opened across the country, an archipelago of thousands of islands, many of them in different time zones. The polls technically closed at midday (0500 GMT), although election officials said people still queuing would be allowed to cast their ballot.
A party or coalition that wins a fifth of the parliamentary seats can nominate a presidential candidate.A party or coalition that wins a fifth of the parliamentary seats can nominate a presidential candidate.
IrregularitiesIrregularities
With each election, Indonesia's democracy seems to inch forward another step, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says.With each election, Indonesia's democracy seems to inch forward another step, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says.
More than 170 million people are eligible to vote in Indonesia's pollsMore than 170 million people are eligible to vote in Indonesia's polls
This time people get to vote directly for members of parliament, not parties, our correspondent says, which has made for a heated - and more expensive - campaign. This time people got to vote directly for members of parliament, not parties, our correspondent says, which has made for a heated - and more expensive - campaign.
There is already concern about irregularities in the voter lists, she adds, and a lot of arguments about the voting process and the count are expected. There was already concern about irregularities in the voter lists, she adds, and a lot of arguments about the voting process and the count are expected.
With hundreds of candidates, some voters may find the process confusing. "There were too many ballot papers and we didn't recognise the faces or candidates," Rivaldi Aswin, a 25-year-old bank clerk, told the Associated Press. With hundreds of candidates, some voters may find the process confusing.
"There were too many ballot papers and we didn't recognise the faces or candidates," Rivaldi Aswin, a 25-year-old bank clerk, told the Associated Press.
Top of many voters' concerns is the economy, with the election campaign ending just as the impact of the global financial crisis is being felt by voters.Top of many voters' concerns is the economy, with the election campaign ending just as the impact of the global financial crisis is being felt by voters.
"I hope parliamentarians can help make everything cheaper," Sukinah, 79, told Reuters after voting in Yogyakarta on Java island."I hope parliamentarians can help make everything cheaper," Sukinah, 79, told Reuters after voting in Yogyakarta on Java island.
The parliamentary elections may also provide a useful litmus test of whether politics in Indonesia, the world's largest majority Muslim country, are becoming more Islamic, analysts say.The parliamentary elections may also provide a useful litmus test of whether politics in Indonesia, the world's largest majority Muslim country, are becoming more Islamic, analysts say.
Tensions highTensions high
Voting opened first in the country's easternmost province of Papua.Voting opened first in the country's easternmost province of Papua.
Earlier, between 80 and 100 people had attacked a police post in the provincial capital of Jayapura.Earlier, between 80 and 100 people had attacked a police post in the provincial capital of Jayapura.
At least six people died in violence in Jayapura and elsewhere in the province, police said.At least six people died in violence in Jayapura and elsewhere in the province, police said.
Tensions in Papua, where there is a separatist movement, are running high and some have called for a boycott of the elections.Tensions in Papua, where there is a separatist movement, are running high and some have called for a boycott of the elections.