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Armenia votes for new president Armenia votes for new president
(about 6 hours later)
People are voting in fiercely-contested presidential elections in the former Soviet republic of Armenia.People are voting in fiercely-contested presidential elections in the former Soviet republic of Armenia.
Many Armenians say the main issues are unemployment, poverty and corruption.Many Armenians say the main issues are unemployment, poverty and corruption.
But there have also been arguments about whether to offer more concessions to resolve conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.But there have also been arguments about whether to offer more concessions to resolve conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Although small, Armenia is seen as strategically important, lying between the energy-rich Caspian Sea, and the gas and oil markets of southern Europe.Although small, Armenia is seen as strategically important, lying between the energy-rich Caspian Sea, and the gas and oil markets of southern Europe.
Polling stations opened at 0800 (0400 GMT) and will close at 2000 (1600 GMT) with early results expected on Wednesday.Polling stations opened at 0800 (0400 GMT) and will close at 2000 (1600 GMT) with early results expected on Wednesday.
Volatile contestVolatile contest
Armenia is a small, mountainous country of 3.2 million people with a recent history of armed conflict and economic devastation - and it still has major problems. class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7250235.stm">Conflict overshadows polls Armenia is a small, mountainous country of 3.2 million people with a recent history of armed conflict and economic devastation - and it still has major problems.
Armenian voters' viewsIn pictures
Its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been closed for more than a decade since the war over Nagorno-Karabakh.Its borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been closed for more than a decade since the war over Nagorno-Karabakh.
This election was initially expected to be a smooth handover of power from current President Robert Kocharian to his friend - Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian.This election was initially expected to be a smooth handover of power from current President Robert Kocharian to his friend - Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian.
But it has turned into a much more volatile contest.But it has turned into a much more volatile contest.
In his campaign advertising, Mr Sarkisian promised to bring the country new prosperity.In his campaign advertising, Mr Sarkisian promised to bring the country new prosperity.
"I assure you that now we will win in the struggle against our internal enemy, and our internal enemy is poverty," he said."I assure you that now we will win in the struggle against our internal enemy, and our internal enemy is poverty," he said.
"We well ensure that there will be almost no poor people in our country.""We well ensure that there will be almost no poor people in our country."
ComebackComeback
The campaign has been brought to life by Armenia's former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who has made a dramatic comeback as an opposition candidate.The campaign has been brought to life by Armenia's former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who has made a dramatic comeback as an opposition candidate.
He accuses the government of not doing enough to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, although some Armenians see his calls for compromise as a betrayal. class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7250235.stm">Conflict overshadows polls He accuses the government of not doing enough to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, although some Armenians see his calls for compromise as a betrayal.
He also alleges that the authorities are using intimidation and fraud to ensure Mr Sarkisian gets elected.He also alleges that the authorities are using intimidation and fraud to ensure Mr Sarkisian gets elected.
"I would hardly call it a campaign - rather it's a struggle that was imposed on us by the authorities," said Mr Ter-Petrosian."I would hardly call it a campaign - rather it's a struggle that was imposed on us by the authorities," said Mr Ter-Petrosian.
"They have completely blocked us from any access to television. The only chance for us to speak to the people has been at rallies, but even there the authorities tried to put obstacles in our way.""They have completely blocked us from any access to television. The only chance for us to speak to the people has been at rallies, but even there the authorities tried to put obstacles in our way."
The Armenian authorities strongly deny that they are manipulating the election process.The Armenian authorities strongly deny that they are manipulating the election process.
But there seems little doubt that if opposition activists are not happy with the results, they will take their anger to the streets.But there seems little doubt that if opposition activists are not happy with the results, they will take their anger to the streets.