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| Central African Republic votes in presidential run-off | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| People in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been voting in the second round of presidential elections. | |
| The poll, which closed at 16.00 (15.00 GMT), is being seen as a step towards restoring peace. | |
| 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. |
| Casting his vote, Mr Touadera - portrayed by supporters as a peacemaker who can bridge the Christian-Muslim divide - said he was hoping for a high turnout. | |
| Mr Dologuele, who has promised a break from the country's violent past, referenced St Valentine's Day as he exhorted citizens to vote "as an act of love for their country", Radio Centrafrique reported. | |
| Read more about CAR: | |
| 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, which took place amid heavy security, will help turn the page on years of religious conflict. | |
| Nearly 80% of the electorate voted in the first round of voting in December, which observers saw as a rejection of violence. | |
| However, Prime Minister Mahamat Kamoun told Radio Centrafrique he was "not entirely satisfied" with voter turnout. | |
| "I want to tell CAR people that these presidential elections are of paramount importance for our country," he said. | |
| Communal reconciliation and reigniting the country's sluggish economy 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. | 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. | 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. |