UN chief encouraged by Aceh poll

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The UN secretary general has said he is encouraged by the first direct election to be held in the Indonesian province of Aceh since last year's peace deal.

Kofi Annan called on all parties to abide by the results and build on the agreement that ended 29 years of war between the government and separatists.

Unofficial results suggest that former rebel leader Irwandi Yusuf is on course to win the contest for governor.

Mr Yusuf was formerly a spokesman of the Free Aceh Movement (Gam).

The secretary general calls on all parties to respect the results of these elections in order to help consolidate the peace process Statement by Kofi Annan's office

In a statement released by his office, Mr Annan said he was encouraged by the "orderly conduct" during "this historic balloting".

"The secretary general calls on all parties to respect the results of these elections in order to help consolidate the peace process, which aims to build a secure and prosperous Aceh within a united and democratic Indonesia," the statement read.

Mr Yusuf polled 39% of votes, the Indonesia Survey Institute said on Monday after counting a representative sample of ballots.

Election rules state that if no candidate receives more than 25% of the vote in the first round, a second round is held.

Official results will not be released until 2 January although similar "quick count" polls accurately forecast the result of national elections in Indonesia in 2004.

Peace talks

Mr Yusuf, formerly a spokesman of the Free Aceh Movement (Gam), was jailed for treason in 2003 but escaped when the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 struck his prison.

ACEH PROVINCE Province on the north-western tip of SumatraHigh percentage of Muslims, and only province where Sharia law allowedSeparatist rebels fought decades-long campaign against JakartaDecember 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated regionNew peace talks led to August 2005 agreementDecember 2006 elections for governor and district leaders

Much of Aceh was devastated by the tsunami. The scale of the disaster - which killed 170,000 people in Aceh - spurred the rebels and the government into peace talks.

Rebels gave up a demand for independence after winning autonomy and the right to participate fully in democratic elections, drawing a line under 29 years of war that left 15,000 dead.

The Helsinki peace deal signed in 2005 paved the way for Monday's election for the posts of governor and deputy governor - previously appointed by central government in Jakarta.

Eight pairs of candidates ran for the positions. District heads are also up for election.

There are about 2.6 million registered voters in Aceh.

Prior to the election result, Mr Yusuf said he was a reluctant candidate who had agreed to run at the urging of religious leaders and rebel commanders.

"Being the governor is like being in prison, I will lose my freedom," he said.