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Three-way race in East Timor poll East Timor set for vote run-off
(about 8 hours later)
East Timor's presidential election will almost certainly require a second round, prolonging the risk of potential political instability. A run-off in East Timor's presidential election looks set to be contested by the current prime minister and a candidate of the ruling party.
With 70% of votes in Monday's poll now counted, there is a three-way split. With 70% of the votes counted, PM Jose Ramos-Horta was trailing the Fretilin Party's Francisco Guterres by about 5%, election officials said.
PM Jose Ramos-Horta, ruling Fretilin Party candidate Francisco Guterres and the Democratic Party's Fernando de Araujo each have about 21% of the vote. Five other candidates are alleging discrepancies in the voting.
A 50% majority is needed for an outright win, so a run-off between the top two candidates is all but certain. Monday's presidential election was East Timor's first since it won independence from Indonesia in 2002.
Monday's presidential poll was the first for East Timor since it won independence from Indonesia in 2002, and many are hoping the vote will help resolve political tensions and instability in the young country. Many are hoping the vote will resolve the political tension and instability in the young country, which resulted in clashes last summer between rival military factions that left 30 people dead.
Whatever the outcome, we must all honour it and work toward a peaceful acceptance Jose Ramos-Horta Cautious optimism at polls Clashes last summer between rival military factions resulted in street violence that left 30 people dead.
Analysts hope the prospect of a repeat vote will not trigger violence, but similar fears of unrest during the first round mostly proved unfounded.Analysts hope the prospect of a repeat vote will not trigger violence, but similar fears of unrest during the first round mostly proved unfounded.
International election observers praised the poll, which despite a few technical glitches and small clashes, was conducted peacefully. Formal protest
Three-way race The national election commission said that, with 70% of ballots counted, Mr Guterres - popularly known as Lu-Olo - of the powerful Fretilin party had secured 29% of the vote.
Official results are not expected until 16 April, but already the East Timorese are preparing to go back to the ballot box. The opinion of the EU observation mission... is that the level of violence and intimidation is not enough to change the opinion of a peaceful and orderly process Javier Pomes RuizEU observer chief class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6539337.stm">Cautious optimism at polls
"From the tally, it is very likely there will be a second round," election commission spokesman Martinho Gusmao told a news conference on Wednesday. Mr Ramos-Horta had taken 23%, with the Democratic Party's Fernando de Araujo in third place with 19%.
"Everything indicates a second ballot," Mr Ramos-Horta added. "Whatever the outcome, we must all honour it and work toward a peaceful acceptance." With no candidate getting the 50% of votes needed to win outright, a run-off is expected to be held on 8 May.
With more than two-thirds of votes counted, Mr Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace prize winner, is very slightly ahead with 21.75% of the vote. Mr De Araujo had 21.73% and Mr Guterres had 21.39%. "The most probable situation is Mr Lu-Olo and Mr Ramos-Horta will go to the second round," election commission spokesman Martinho Gusmao said.
They were among eight candidates seeking to replace Xanana Gusmao, who is stepping down as president and hopes to run for prime minister later this year. Mr de Araujo was among five presidential candidates who filed a formal protest over the election, alleging discrepancies between the number of votes and voters.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the vote, with his office saying he was "heartened that the election was conducted in a general atmosphere of order and calm," and that initial indications showed high voter turnout. "There are a lot of irregularities in this process and we want to tell the public we are not happy," Mr de Araujo said.
High turnout
Mr Ramos-Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for championing East Timor's independence cause, is running as an independent.
He has the support of outgoing President Xanana Gusmao, who hopes to run for prime minister later this year.
Mr Gusmao won the presidential election held just before independence was formally declared in 2002 but did not stand for re-election as president this year.
They are trying to oust the traditionally popular Fretilin party from power.
Both the EU and the UN praised the election, saying it had run smoothly for the most part and there had been a high turnout.