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Brazil set for presidential poll Brazil set for presidential poll
(about 3 hours later)
People in Brazil are preparing go to the polls, with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a second term. Millions of Brazilians are due to go to the polls with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a second term.
More than 125 million Brazilians are eligible to take part in congressional, regional and presidential elections. Lula, as the president is known, is seeking the 50% of votes needed to win outright victory in the first round.
'Lula' - as he is known - is hoping to gain the 50% of votes needed to secure outright victory in the first round. But his lead in opinion polls narrowed ahead of the vote, amid allegations of corruption and dirty tricks involving his Workers' Party.
His main challenger is Geraldo Alckmin, a business-friendly candidate and former governor of Sao Paulo state - Brazil's most populous and wealthiest. His main rival is Geraldo Alckmin, the centre-left, business-friendly former governor of Sao Paulo state.
Lead narrows
Since Lula, the first left-winger to hold the country's highest office in 50 years, was elected in a landslide victory in 2001, his welfare programmes have helped him gain strong support among the country's poor.
BRAZIL ELECTIONS Polls open: 0800 local time (1100 GMT)Polls close: 1900 local time (2200 GMT)Eligible voters: 125 millionElections taking place: Congressional, regional, presidential But his once-commanding lead in the polls has been dented by a series of corruption scandals involving his Workers' Party.
Final pre-election opinion polls showed Lula dipping a little below the 50% of the vote required to avoid a second-round run-off, while Mr Alckmin's scores had risen a few percentage points to about 35%.
Scandals
Two weeks ago two men with links to the Workers' Party were arrested carrying $800,000 dollars in cash, which detectives believe was to have paid for a dossier of corruption allegations against the president's rivals.
The scandal led Lula to sack his campaign manager, but has resurfaced over the weekend with newspapers publishing photographs of the wads of banknotes.
Profiles: Opposition figures Lula denies ever engaging in smear tactics and says he has been let down by party colleagues, but faces an investigation by Brazil's federal electoral court.
It follows controversy last year over alleged bribes for votes in congress, which led to the resignation of the party's leader and several high-level colleagues.
On Saturday, Mr Alckmin, who is standing for the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), said voters should choose him to rid Brazil of "this plague of corruption" and "to have a government that works".
Poverty reduced
Lula, the son of an illiterate peasant family who worked as a peanut seller and shoe cleaner as a boy, also failed to turn up for a televised debate against his rivals on Thursday.
His policies, including raising the minimum wage and broadening state help to the poorest families, have reduced the number of Brazilians living in poverty.
But many commentators argue that his programmes fail to address the structural problems that underpin poverty, such as education.
And although Brazil has seen steady annual growth under his government, some business leaders argue it is losing the competitive edge against international rivals.
More than 125 million Brazilians are eligible to take part in the congressional, regional and presidential elections taking place on Sunday.
Also running for president is Heloisa Helena, who was expelled from the president's Workers' Party and claims to represent the voice of the true left.Also running for president is Heloisa Helena, who was expelled from the president's Workers' Party and claims to represent the voice of the true left.
Throughout his campaign Brazil's first working-class head of state has portrayed himself as the candidate of the poor.
But the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Sao Paulo says he has seen his once-commanding lead dented by a series of corruption scandals involving the Workers' Party.
His poll ratings have slipped further in recent days, after he failed to turn up for a televised debate against his rivals.
If no candidate achieves 50% of the vote, a run-off between the top two contenders would take place in four weeks' time.If no candidate achieves 50% of the vote, a run-off between the top two contenders would take place in four weeks' time.
The president was elected by a landslide in 2001.