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| Malians vote in presidential election | Malians vote in presidential election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Voters across Mali are heading to the polls in a presidential election aimed at reuniting the country after months of political turmoil. | Voters across Mali are heading to the polls in a presidential election aimed at reuniting the country after months of political turmoil. |
| Security is tight, with many areas still recovering after a northern rebellion and coup that resulted in foreign military intervention. | Security is tight, with many areas still recovering after a northern rebellion and coup that resulted in foreign military intervention. |
| There are 27 candidates and if no outright winner emerges, the voting goes to a second round on 11 August. | There are 27 candidates and if no outright winner emerges, the voting goes to a second round on 11 August. |
| However, some analysts have questioned whether Mali is ready for the election. | However, some analysts have questioned whether Mali is ready for the election. |
| Some 6.8 million people are eligible to vote at 21,000 polling stations across the country. | Some 6.8 million people are eligible to vote at 21,000 polling stations across the country. |
| But hundreds of thousands of Malians in the north were displaced by fighting. The majority of them will not be able to vote. | But hundreds of thousands of Malians in the north were displaced by fighting. The majority of them will not be able to vote. |
| Islamist militants in the north have also warned people not to take part and have threatened to attack polling stations. | |
| There are also concerns about the fairness of the electoral process in the northern town of Kidal, which is still occupied by Tuareg rebels. | There are also concerns about the fairness of the electoral process in the northern town of Kidal, which is still occupied by Tuareg rebels. |
| Tuareg gunmen were suspected of abducting electoral officials in the northern Tessalit area last week as they handed out voter identification cards. The officials were later released. | Tuareg gunmen were suspected of abducting electoral officials in the northern Tessalit area last week as they handed out voter identification cards. The officials were later released. |
| French troops are still deployed in the area with Chadian forces as part of the UN stabilisation force, Minusma. | French troops are still deployed in the area with Chadian forces as part of the UN stabilisation force, Minusma. |
| 'Positively surprised' | |
| Despite the problems, Louis Michel, head of the EU's election observer mission, said he was "positively surprised" by preparations for the vote and that the conditions were acceptable. | Despite the problems, Louis Michel, head of the EU's election observer mission, said he was "positively surprised" by preparations for the vote and that the conditions were acceptable. |
| The US ambassador to Mali, Mary Beth Leonard, said the fragility of the interim government had to end. | |
| "A month ago, there were a lot of doubts (over the election). But it has come together," she said. | "A month ago, there were a lot of doubts (over the election). But it has come together," she said. |
| Candidates include three former prime ministers, a former finance minister and one woman. | Candidates include three former prime ministers, a former finance minister and one woman. |
| The frontrunners include Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, prime minister from 1994 to 2000, who founded his own party, the Rally for Mali (RPM), in 2001. | The frontrunners include Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, prime minister from 1994 to 2000, who founded his own party, the Rally for Mali (RPM), in 2001. |
| At his final rally in the capital Bamako on Friday, Mr Keita - known as IBK - appealed for a calm election day and vowed to ensure that "no-one will make fun of Mali again". | At his final rally in the capital Bamako on Friday, Mr Keita - known as IBK - appealed for a calm election day and vowed to ensure that "no-one will make fun of Mali again". |
| His biggest rival is seen as Soumaila Cisse, who founded the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) in 2003. | |
| Mr Cisse has called for the junta that seized power in 2012 to be cleared from the political scene. | Mr Cisse has called for the junta that seized power in 2012 to be cleared from the political scene. |
| Observers say Soumana Sacko, another former prime minister, can expect a good showing if there is no clear winner. | Observers say Soumana Sacko, another former prime minister, can expect a good showing if there is no clear winner. |