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Indonesians vote in key elections Count under way in Indonesia poll
(about 1 hour later)
Indonesians have voted in parliamentary elections - the third such poll since democracy was introduced a decade ago. Votes are being counted in Indonesia's third parliamentary elections since democracy was introduced a decade ago.
Official results will not be confirmed until next month, but early indications are that the party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is doing well.
The ballot was largely peaceful, with more than 170 million eligible voters across the country's 17,000 islands.The ballot was largely peaceful, with more than 170 million eligible voters across the country's 17,000 islands.
However, at least six people died in violence in Papua province, where there is an active separatist movement.However, at least six people died in violence in Papua province, where there is an active separatist movement.
Nearly 40 parties contested the election, with the Democrat Party led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expected to do well. Tensions were high amid growing calls for Papuan independence ahead of the ballot.
The ballot also decides who can run for president in elections scheduled for July. Overnight, groups attacked buildings including a police station. The Papuan police chief said the incidents were aimed at "sabotaging" the ballot.
A party or coalition that wins a fifth of the parliamentary seats can nominate a presidential candidate. Islamic flavour
Irregularities Nearly 40 parties contested the election, which will also decide who can run for president in a poll scheduled for July.
The polls closed at midday (0500 GMT) on Thursday, although election officials said people still queuing would be allowed to cast their ballot.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says there were lots of worries about this election - fears of violence in some provinces and fears of electoral fraud in others.
But, she says, reports that have come in so far are mostly talking about minor procedural issues rather than serious disruption to the vote itself.
In the newly-autonomous province of Aceh, where several political activists have been killed recently, voting appears to have been calm.
But there was violence overnight in the easternmost province of Papua, where groups attacked buildings including a police station.
Tensions were high amid growing calls for Papuan independence ahead of the ballot. The Papuan police chief said the incidents were aimed at "sabotaging" the poll.
The main issue for many other Indonesians was the economy, along with endemic corruption.
Q&A: Indonesian elections Q&A: Indonesian elections
Exports are falling, foreign investment is drying up and millions of poor Indonesians are struggling to stay above the poverty line - in what is south-east Asia's biggest economy. The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says results from a small sample of the national vote are already taking shape, as updates flicker in every few seconds on television news networks.
This time people were able to vote directly for members of parliament, not parties, our correspondent says, which has made for a heated - and more expensive - campaign. These predictions are based on counts from thousands of polling stations across the country.
But with hundreds of candidates, some voters may find the process confusing - and arguments about the voting process and the count are expected, she says. With almost half the quick count now in, everyone is putting President Yudhoyono's Democrat Party in the lead, our correspondent says.
"There were too many ballot papers and we didn't recognise the faces or candidates," Rivaldi Aswin, a 25-year-old bank clerk, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. Parties or coalitions need to get 20% of the seats in parliament in order to contest the powerful presidential seat in three months' time.
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. Several polls have predicted that the Democrat Party will more than double its seats and cross the 20% threshold.
If so, our correspondent says that could mean some interesting options for a running mate - and perhaps even one with a more Islamic flavour.
This is only the third general election since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, after which Indonesia made the transition to democracy.This is only the third general election since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, after which Indonesia made the transition to democracy.
This time people were able to vote directly for members of parliament, not parties, which made for a heated - and more expensive - campaign.
The main issue for many Indonesians was the economy, along with endemic corruption.
Exports are falling, foreign investment is drying up and millions of poor Indonesians are struggling to stay above the poverty line - in what is south-east Asia's biggest economy.
But with hundreds of candidates, some voters may find the process confusing - and arguments about the voting process and the count are expected, our correspondent says.
Are you in Indonesia? Have you voted? What are your hopes for this election? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Indonesia? Have you voted? What are your hopes for this election? Send us your comments using the form below:
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions