This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-32873815

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Polls close in Suriname general election Suriname poll: Incumbent leader Bouterse's party ahead
(about 4 hours later)
People in the South American nation of Suriname have voted in a general election. Preliminary results from Monday's general election in Suriname suggest the party of incumbent President Desi Bouterse has a comfortable lead.
All 51 seats in the National Assembly are being chosen. With 80% of votes counted, his National Democratic Party (NDP) looked set to take 27 seats in the 51-seat National Assembly, an absolute majority.
The new National Assembly will then choose the next president of Suriname's half-a-million-strong population. The National Assembly will choose a president within weeks of the parliamentary election.
Former military ruler Desi Bouterse, who has been convicted of drug trafficking in the Netherlands, said he was confident he would be re-elected to another five-year term. For Mr Bouterse to stay in power, 34 lawmakers will have to vote for him.
"We have had a strong campaign and we are convinced we will get the majority to rule on our own," President Bouterse said as he cast his vote. 'Coalition talks'
"Strong foundations have been laid for the future of this country," he added, referring to his government's social programmes aimed at improving education, healthcare and housing. His party currently looks short of achieving that figure, but Mr Bouterse said on Monday that he favoured entering into a coalition.
'Controversial force' "It depends on how many votes the population gives us, but regardless it would be good to form a stronger and more stable [government] with those who also think positively," he said.
Mr Bouterse's National Democratic Party will need 26 seats to govern alone and a two-thirds majority of 34 seats to re-elect him as president without entering into a coalition. NDP supporters celebrated at their party headquarters as the preliminary results came in, waving purple flags, dancing and setting off fireworks.
Mr Bouterse's main rival is Chandrika Persad Santokhi, who heads a coalition of opposition parties called V7. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the leader of the V7 main opposition coalition, told local media the result was "worse than I had expected".
Pre-election opinion polls put Mr Bouterse's party ahead with a comfortable majority. Controversial leader
Mr Bouterse, 69, is a powerful yet controversial figure in Suriname. Mr Bouterse is a powerful but controversial figure in Suriname.
He ruled for seven years after seizing power in a 1980 coup, stepping down in 1987 but briefly ruling again after a second coup in 1990. He ruled for seven years after seizing power in a coup in 1980 before stepping down, but briefly ruled again after a second coup in 1990.
In 1999 he was convicted in absentia by a Dutch court for cocaine trafficking, charges he has denied.In 1999 he was convicted in absentia by a Dutch court for cocaine trafficking, charges he has denied.
Immunity
As the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with its former colony, Mr Bouterse was never jailed.As the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with its former colony, Mr Bouterse was never jailed.
In 2012 the National Assembly, which was dominated by Mr Bouterse's party, voted to grant the president immunity for alleged human rights abuses committed under his military rule.In 2012 the National Assembly, which was dominated by Mr Bouterse's party, voted to grant the president immunity for alleged human rights abuses committed under his military rule.
He had been charged with involvement in the murder of 15 political opponents in 1982, which he denied.He had been charged with involvement in the murder of 15 political opponents in 1982, which he denied.
The probe was led by his now political rival Chandrika Santokhi, who was the police commissioner at the time. The probe was led by his now political rival Mr Santokhi, who was the police commissioner at the time.
Observers from the Organization of American States and other regional bodies are in Suriname to monitor the elections.
Results are expected on Tuesday.