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| Ecuador votes for new president | Ecuador votes for new president |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Ecuadoreans are voting to choose a new president, with the incumbent, Rafael Correa, likely to be re-elected. | Ecuadoreans are voting to choose a new president, with the incumbent, Rafael Correa, likely to be re-elected. |
| Opinion polls have suggested Mr Correa enjoys a decisive lead over his main rivals, ex-President Lucio Gutierrez, and banana mogul Alvaro Noboa. | Opinion polls have suggested Mr Correa enjoys a decisive lead over his main rivals, ex-President Lucio Gutierrez, and banana mogul Alvaro Noboa. |
| This has led observers to wonder whether Mr Correa could gain enough votes to avert a second-round run-off, says the BBC's James Painter. | |
| But his opponents have accused him of strong-arm tactics to retain power. | But his opponents have accused him of strong-arm tactics to retain power. |
| Polls opened at 0700 (1200 GMT), with some 10 million of Ecuador's population of 17 million entitled to vote. | Polls opened at 0700 (1200 GMT), with some 10 million of Ecuador's population of 17 million entitled to vote. |
| In addition to selecting the president, voters are electing members of the National Assembly and regional and municipal offices. | In addition to selecting the president, voters are electing members of the National Assembly and regional and municipal offices. |
| New constitution | New constitution |
| If elected, Mr Correa will be able to add a new four-year term to the two years he has already served. | If elected, Mr Correa will be able to add a new four-year term to the two years he has already served. |
| In that time, he has won a following through massively increasing social spending, talking tough to the foreign investors and multinationals many Ecuadoreans feel are exploitative, and providing firm leadership in a country frequently previously characterised by political instability, our correspondent says. | In that time, he has won a following through massively increasing social spending, talking tough to the foreign investors and multinationals many Ecuadoreans feel are exploitative, and providing firm leadership in a country frequently previously characterised by political instability, our correspondent says. |
| Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa | Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa |
| "Ecuadoreans will decide between a past of looting and injustice or a much more beautiful future of change," he told thousands of supporters at his closing campaign rally, according to Reuters news agency. | "Ecuadoreans will decide between a past of looting and injustice or a much more beautiful future of change," he told thousands of supporters at his closing campaign rally, according to Reuters news agency. |
| But his opponents accuse him of riding roughshod over the country's democratic institutions by backing the adoption of a new constitution in a popular vote last September, says our correspondent. | But his opponents accuse him of riding roughshod over the country's democratic institutions by backing the adoption of a new constitution in a popular vote last September, says our correspondent. |
| Among other things, the constitution allowed Mr Correa to run for re-election, and increased state controls on private industry and land. | Among other things, the constitution allowed Mr Correa to run for re-election, and increased state controls on private industry and land. |
| It also gave 16-year-olds, prison inmates, police and soldiers the vote. | It also gave 16-year-olds, prison inmates, police and soldiers the vote. |
| "You are bowing your head to a tyrant, and I am not going to allow that, I want to return dignity and pride to Ecuador," said Mr Noboa at his closing rally, Reuters reported. | "You are bowing your head to a tyrant, and I am not going to allow that, I want to return dignity and pride to Ecuador," said Mr Noboa at his closing rally, Reuters reported. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Gutierrez accused Mr Correa of repelling foreign investors. | Meanwhile, Mr Gutierrez accused Mr Correa of repelling foreign investors. |
| Tough outlook | Tough outlook |
| Mr Correa need 50% of the vote - or 40% with a 10-percentage-point minimum lead over his closest rival - to avoid a second-round run-off vote for the first time in 30 years. | Mr Correa need 50% of the vote - or 40% with a 10-percentage-point minimum lead over his closest rival - to avoid a second-round run-off vote for the first time in 30 years. |
| However, if he wins, he will face a very difficult economic context, says our correspondent. | However, if he wins, he will face a very difficult economic context, says our correspondent. |
| Ecuador is a member of Opec, and oil accounts for more than 60% of its exports. | Ecuador is a member of Opec, and oil accounts for more than 60% of its exports. |
| If oil prices remain low, Mr Correa would have much less money to spend on social programmes. | If oil prices remain low, Mr Correa would have much less money to spend on social programmes. |
| If so, Mr Correa's decision to default on billions of dollars of debt he termed "illegal" last year could make it more difficult for him to borrow money to cover the gap, our correspondent says. | If so, Mr Correa's decision to default on billions of dollars of debt he termed "illegal" last year could make it more difficult for him to borrow money to cover the gap, our correspondent says. |