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| Central African Republic: Presidential run-off polling begins | Central African Republic: Presidential run-off polling begins |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voters in the Central African Republic (CAR) are going to the polls for the second round of presidential elections. | |
| The vote is being seen as a significant step towards restoring peace, stability and democratic government. | The vote is being seen as a significant step towards restoring peace, stability and democratic government. |
| It comes after the seizure of power by a mainly Muslim rebel group in 2013 led to prolonged bloodshed. | It comes after the seizure of power by a mainly Muslim rebel group in 2013 led to prolonged bloodshed. |
| Both presidential candidates, former prime ministers Faustin Touadera and Anicet Dologuele, have pledged to restore security and boost the economy. | Both presidential candidates, former prime ministers Faustin Touadera and Anicet Dologuele, have pledged to restore security and boost the economy. |
| Mr Dologuele served under President Ange-Felix Patasse between 1999 and 2001, and Mr Touadera was prime minister under President Francois Bozize between 2008 and 2013. | Mr Dologuele served under President Ange-Felix Patasse between 1999 and 2001, and Mr Touadera was prime minister under President Francois Bozize between 2008 and 2013. |
| There are hopes that the poll will help turn the page on years of religious conflict. | |
| Communal reconciliation and reigniting the country's sluggish economy have featured prominently as campaign themes. | Communal reconciliation and reigniting the country's sluggish economy have featured prominently as campaign themes. |
| CAR is one of the world's most unstable countries and was thrown into political chaos three years ago when mostly Muslim Seleka fighters toppled President Bozize. | |
| Christian militias responded to Seleka abuses, with attacks carried out against the Muslim minority community. | Christian militias responded to Seleka abuses, with attacks carried out against the Muslim minority community. |
| After regional pressure, an interim administration took charge in January 2014 and later that year a 10,000-strong UN force took over the peacekeeping mission. | |
| The north-east of the country is now mostly under the control of Muslim rebels while Christian militias hold sway the south-west. | The north-east of the country is now mostly under the control of Muslim rebels while Christian militias hold sway the south-west. |
| Thousands died in the fighting and roughly a fifth of the population is thought to have been displaced. | Thousands died in the fighting and roughly a fifth of the population is thought to have been displaced. |
| Mr Dologuele has promised voters a break from the country's recent violent past, with the campaign slogan "united we will win". | Mr Dologuele has promised voters a break from the country's recent violent past, with the campaign slogan "united we will win". |
| Mr Touadera is portrayed by supporters as a peacemaker who can bridge the Christian-Muslim divide. | Mr Touadera is portrayed by supporters as a peacemaker who can bridge the Christian-Muslim divide. |
| There was a turnout of nearly 80% for the first round of voting in December. | There was a turnout of nearly 80% for the first round of voting in December. |
| Observers saw that as being a rejection of violence by the electorate. | Observers saw that as being a rejection of violence by the electorate. |