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| E Timor votes for new president | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The people of East Timor are voting in a run-off presidential election to decide who will replace outgoing leader Xanana Gusmao. | |
| Their choice is between interim Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and ruling party candidate Francisco Guterres. | Their choice is between interim Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and ruling party candidate Francisco Guterres. |
| No candidate won an outright majority in the first round last month. | No candidate won an outright majority in the first round last month. |
| That vote was the first since East Timor gained full independence in 2002 following its bloody separation from Indonesia in 1999. | That vote was the first since East Timor gained full independence in 2002 following its bloody separation from Indonesia in 1999. |
| Despite fears of violence, the run-up to Wednesday's poll has been peaceful, with both candidates pledging to accept the result. | Despite fears of violence, the run-up to Wednesday's poll has been peaceful, with both candidates pledging to accept the result. |
| The BBC's Lucy Williamson in the capital Dili says there is a strong demand for change, and turnout is expected to be high. | |
| Our correspondent says voters have seen little improvement in the economy since independence, and a political crisis last year which provoked violent unrest has helped to undermine voter confidence. | |
| Past violence | Past violence |
| Most analysts see Mr Ramos-Horta - a Nobel Peace Prize winner - as the favourite, especially because most of the six losing candidates in the first round are urging their supporters to back him. | Most analysts see Mr Ramos-Horta - a Nobel Peace Prize winner - as the favourite, especially because most of the six losing candidates in the first round are urging their supporters to back him. |
| Voices from a troubled nation But Mr Guterres remains a strong contender, and is backed by the ruling political party Fretilin, which was the political party of the former armed resistance movement and still has strong support across the country. | Voices from a troubled nation But Mr Guterres remains a strong contender, and is backed by the ruling political party Fretilin, which was the political party of the former armed resistance movement and still has strong support across the country. |
| United Nations police are helping to ensure security during the election, backed by international troops. | |
| Mr Gusmao has appealed for unity and peace. | |
| He did not want to contest another term as president, and is instead putting himself up as a candidate for the more powerful post of prime minister, in parliamentary elections which will take place in June. | He did not want to contest another term as president, and is instead putting himself up as a candidate for the more powerful post of prime minister, in parliamentary elections which will take place in June. |
| Many people in East Timor hope these elections will bring an end to the political tension and instability that has blighted the young country. | Many people in East Timor hope these elections will bring an end to the political tension and instability that has blighted the young country. |
| Last summer, more than 30 people were killed, and thousands displaced, in clashes between rival military factions. | Last summer, more than 30 people were killed, and thousands displaced, in clashes between rival military factions. |