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E Timor favourite 'set for win' Ramos-Horta ahead in E Timor poll
(about 5 hours later)
East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta is set for victory in the country's presidential poll, according to local media and the man himself. Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta is leading the race in East Timor's presidential poll, an election commission official has said.
With counting still continuing, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said he was on course to win up to 70% or 80% of the votes cast in Wednesday's run-off. With almost half the ballots counted, commission spokeswoman Maria Sarmento said he had won most of the votes cast.
He is up against the former rebel leader Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres. Mr Ramos-Horta is competing against parliamentary speaker Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres.
Final results may not emerge until Friday, in a vote seen as critical for the future off the impoverished nation. Final results are not due until Friday, but a clear winner may already be apparent by Thursday evening.
"I am still awaiting official results because they are still being counted, but I could get 70-80%," Mr Ramos-Horta said. Observers say the poll was conducted peacefully and free of intimidation, raising hopes it may prove to be a turning point for the impoverished and violence-wracked nation.
"In most of the districts, in all the western districts, I think I am winning." Confident
Mr Ramos-Horta, the current prime minister, had been the favourite to win the contest, but Mr Guterres also has strong support and is backed by the ruling political party Fretilin.
Mr Ramos-Horta is widely seen as more friendly with the West than his main opponents, while Mr Guterres often takes a more leftist, nationalist line.
"Jose Ramos-Horta leads for the time being," Maria Sarmento told a media conference in the capital, Dili.
"In most districts he is leading with around 50-80% of the votes," she added.
Mr Ramos-Horta himself sounded confident of success, telling reporters: "I am still awaiting official results because they are still being counted, but I could get 70-80%."
East Timor's main newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae, also forecast that the prime minister would gain 75% of the vote.East Timor's main newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae, also forecast that the prime minister would gain 75% of the vote.
The winner will succeed Xanana Gusmao, who has led the nation since it won independence five years ago. A spokesman for Mr Guterres told the Associated Press that the former resistance fighter remained still confident of victory, but repeated earlier statements that he would accept the result.
class="" 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 "In a democracy, whoever get the most votes wins," said Harold Moucho.
Whoever becomes the new president will succeed Xanana Gusmao, who has led the nation since it won independence five years ago, after breaking free from decades of Indonesian rule in 1999.
Mr Gusmao did not seek re-election as president, but hopes to become the next prime minister, a much more powerful position.
He has already announced his intention to run in parliamentary elections in June.
Hopes and fears
Turnout was estimated at up to 80%, with many voters expressing their hopes for a change to the poverty-stricken nation's fortunes.Turnout was estimated at up to 80%, with many voters expressing their hopes for a change to the poverty-stricken nation's fortunes.
"If Ramos-Horta wins it will not be a victory over Lu-Olo but a victory for East Timorese democracy and values," said Maria Fernandes, a 46-year-old school teacher."If Ramos-Horta wins it will not be a victory over Lu-Olo but a victory for East Timorese democracy and values," said Maria Fernandes, a 46-year-old school teacher.
"I hope Horta will be able to embrace all Timorese," she told the AP news agency."I hope Horta will be able to embrace all Timorese," she told the AP news agency.
Almost half of the nation's workforce is unemployed, while violence has never been far away. Almost half of the nation's workforce is unemployed, while violence has also blighted many people's lives.
Last year, dozens of people were killed and tens of thousands fled their homes in clashes between rival military factions that toppled the government. Last year dozens of people were killed and tens of thousands fled their homes in clashes between rival military factions that toppled the government.
Some 1,200 Australian-led UN peacekeeping troops, backed by a similar number of UN police officers, have been helping to ensure security during the election.Some 1,200 Australian-led UN peacekeeping troops, backed by a similar number of UN police officers, have been helping to ensure security during the election.