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E Timor votes for new president E Timor votes for new president
(about 2 hours later)
The people of East Timor are voting in a run-off presidential election to decide who will replace outgoing leader Xanana Gusmao. The people of East Timor are voting in the country's first presidential election since it gained independence from Indonesia five years ago.
Their choice is between interim Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and ruling party candidate Francisco Guterres. They must choose between Nobel Peace winner Jose Ramos-Horta and the speaker of parliament, Francisco Guterres.
No candidate won an outright majority in the first round last month. The post is largely ceremonial, but turnout is expected to be high as voters press for change.
That vote was the first since East Timor gained full independence in 2002 following its bloody separation from Indonesia in 1999. UN police, backed by international troops, are helping to ensure security, after violence in the first round.
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 as the people of East Timor 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.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in the capital Dili says there is a strong demand for change, and turnout is expected to be high. Campaign policies
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. Current interim Prime Minister Mr Ramos-Horta has promised to tackle East Timor's deep economic problems by encouraging foreign direct investment in the country.
Mr Guterres has focused his campaign on maintaining security.
Both candidates have pledged to accept the results of this second round run-off.
Voices from a troubled nation
Analysts say Mr Ramos-Horta is the favourite to win as most of the six losing candidates in the first round are urging their supporters to back him.
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.
Despite clashes between rival candidate's supporters during the first round, the run-up to Wednesday's poll has been peaceful.
Past violencePast 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. Some 1,200 Australian-led UN peacekeeping troops, backed by a similar number of UN police officers, are helping to ensure security during the election.
class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6188623.stm">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. "We are satisfied that there's enough security in place to guarantee that East Timorese will vote in a safe manner on Wednesday," said Finn Reske-Nielsen, deputy head of the UN mission in the country.
United Nations police are helping to ensure security during the election, backed by international troops. Many people in East Timor hope these elections will bring an end to the political tension and instability that has blighted the young country, our correspondent says.
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.
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.
Polls are due to close at 1600 local time (0700GMT).