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Yemenis vote in crucial election Yemen president leads vote count
(about 2 hours later)
Yemenis have voted in presidential elections that are seen as a test of the government's commitment to reform. Early results in Yemen's presidential election show the president of 28 years leading with more than 80% of the vote, the electoral commission said.
Four candidates are standing, including the incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh, but he faces his first serious electoral challenge after 28 years in office. Incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh's main challenger, Faisal Bin Shamlan, was trailing with about 16%, according to the commission head.
The main challenger is Faisal Bin Shamlan, who says tackling corruption will be his main priority if elected. Voting was mainly peaceful, although at least three people were killed.
Voting was steady and mainly peaceful, though reports say three people were killed in a clash between supporters. The elections are being seen as a test of the government's commitment to tackling corruption.
Witnesses said the fighting happened at a polling station that had been closed prematurely near the capital Sanaa. It is the first time President Saleh has faced a serious challenge.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/middle_east_yemeni_voters_speak_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/middle_east_yemeni_voters_speak_/html/1.stm', '1158747372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Yemenis discuss the election candidates and issues href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/middle_east_yemeni_voters_speak_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/middle_east_yemeni_voters_speak_/html/1.stm', '1158747372', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures The BBC's Heba Saleh in Sanaa says western donors are watching the polls closely. Roughly 5 million of the 9.2 million eligible Yemenis cast ballots, the commission said.
Yemenis discuss the election candidates and issuesIn pictures An official for the commission said three people had died in fighting between rival supporters, including two opposition municipal candidates.
The opposition coalition backing Mr Shamlan told Reuters news agency a total of eight people had been killed in gunfights.
It also reported 30 instances of irregularities, including observers forced to leave several stations, forced voting, intimidation of voters and removal of ballot boxes, Reuters reported.
The BBC's Heba Saleh in Sanaa says Western donors are watching the polls closely.
If they are seen to be peaceful and reasonably democratic, donors could increase international aid, which the government says is needed to tackle Islamist militancy.If they are seen to be peaceful and reasonably democratic, donors could increase international aid, which the government says is needed to tackle Islamist militancy.
Security has been tight at the 5,500 polling stations, with 100,000 security personnel deployed throughout the country. Security was tight at the 5,500 polling stations, with 100,000 security personnel deployed throughout the country.
About 100 European observers were monitoring the vote, which started at 0800 local time (0500 GMT) and was scheduled to end at 1800 (1500 GMT). About 100 European observers monitored the vote.
'Voters' victory''Voters' victory'
Many men arrived to vote in traditional clothes and with daggers in their belts while women - there are 3.9 million registered in an electorate of 9.25 million - turned up clothed from head to toe in black. Many men arrived to vote in traditional clothes and with daggers in their belts while women - of which there are 3.9 million registered in an electorate of 9.25 million - turned up clothed from head to toe in black.
They stood in separate lines for booths and were searched by female police officers.They stood in separate lines for booths and were searched by female police officers.
Incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh faces a serious challengeMr Saleh cast his vote early, saying the real victor in the polls was the Yemeni people. Incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for 28 yearsMr Saleh cast his vote early, saying the real victor in the polls was the Yemeni people.
"Today is a real celebration of Yemen's democracy as we set the foundations for Yemen's future in peaceful alternation of power," Mr Saleh told reporters as he cast his ballot."Today is a real celebration of Yemen's democracy as we set the foundations for Yemen's future in peaceful alternation of power," Mr Saleh told reporters as he cast his ballot.
A coalition of opposition parties supporting Mr Shamlan, a former oil minister, accuses the ruling party of forging voter lists, and intimidating and arresting his supporters. Mr Shamlan, a former oil minister, has campaigned with tackling corruption as his main priority if elected.
The other two candidates in the race are socialist party candidate Ahmed al-Majidi and Fathi al-Azab, who has urged his supporters to vote for Mr Shamlan. His coalition accuses the ruling party of forging voter lists, and intimidating and arresting his supporters.
The other two candidates in the race are socialist party candidate Ahmed al-Majidi and Fathi al-Azab, who urged his supporters to vote for Mr Shamlan.
Mr Shamlan's slogan, "a president at the service of Yemen, not Yemen at the service of the president", is an allusion to the alleged cronyism and corruption around Mr Saleh.Mr Shamlan's slogan, "a president at the service of Yemen, not Yemen at the service of the president", is an allusion to the alleged cronyism and corruption around Mr Saleh.
BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says a transition to democracy is far ahead of some other countries in Arabia, although power still rests primarily with tribes, the army and religious leaders.BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says a transition to democracy is far ahead of some other countries in Arabia, although power still rests primarily with tribes, the army and religious leaders.