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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| E Timor votes for new president | E Timor votes for new president |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The people of East Timor are voting in the country's first presidential election since it gained independence from Indonesia five years ago. | The people of East Timor are voting in the country's first presidential election since it gained independence from Indonesia five years ago. |
| They must choose between Nobel Peace winner Jose Ramos-Horta and the speaker of parliament, Francisco Guterres. | They must choose between Nobel Peace winner Jose Ramos-Horta and the speaker of parliament, Francisco Guterres. |
| The post is largely ceremonial, but turnout is expected to be high as voters press for change. | The post is largely ceremonial, but turnout is expected to be high as voters press for change. |
| UN police, backed by international troops, are helping to ensure security, after violence in the first round. | UN police, backed by international troops, are helping to ensure security, after violence in the first round. |
| 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 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. |
| Campaign policies | Campaign policies |
| 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. | 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. | Mr Guterres has focused his campaign on maintaining security. |
| Both candidates have pledged to accept the results of this second round run-off. | Both candidates have pledged to accept the results of this second round run-off. |
| href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6637613.stm">Young people want change class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6188623.stm">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. | 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. | 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. | Despite clashes between rival candidate's supporters during the first round, the run-up to Wednesday's poll has been peaceful. |
| Past violence | Past violence |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |