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Incumbent ahead in Indonesia poll Indonesia leader set for poll win
(about 6 hours later)
Voting has ended in Indonesia's presidential election, with exit polls suggesting the incumbent, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has a clear lead. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appears on course for re-election with a large majority, exit polls suggest.
Unofficial counts indicate that Mr Yudhoyono may have been re-elected with more than 50% of the vote - enough of a margin to avoid a run-off in September. They say he won about 60% of the vote in Wednesday's elections - enough of a margin to avoid a run-off in September.
The counts showed former President Megawati Sukarnoputri on 27% and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla on 15%. Former President Megawati Sukarnoputri secured about a quarter of the vote, with Vice-President Jusuf Kalla in third place, the polls show.
The vote passed off peacefully across the country's thousands of islands.The vote passed off peacefully across the country's thousands of islands.
A controversy over voter lists slightly marred the run-up to the poll, amid claims that duplicate names and even the names of dead people were appearing on the electoral rolls. A controversy over voter lists marred the run-up to the poll, amid claims that duplicate names and even the names of dead people were appearing on the electoral rolls.
'Corruption-free' Full official results are not expected for a week or more.
The first polling stations opened in Indonesia's easternmost region, Papua, where extra police were on standby in case of a repeat of the recent violence linked to separatist groups. 'Flaws'
Polls in Indonesia closed at 0600 GMT on Wednesday.
Extra police were on standby in the country's easternmost region, Papua, amid fears of a repeat of the recent violence linked to separatist groups.
Voters had their fingers inked to show they had cast their ballotVoters had their fingers inked to show they had cast their ballot
But no major problems were reported there or elsewhere, as voting got under way throughout the rest of this huge archipelago spanning three time zones and 17,000 islands. However, no major problems were reported there or in the rest of Indonesia - a huge archipelago spanning three time zones and some 17,000 islands.
This is only the second direct presidential election since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, and about 170 million people were eligible to vote. But Prabowo Subianto, Ms Megawati's running mate, denounced alleged flaws in the electoral register.
Official results are not expected for several days but, based on several unofficial figures compiled in local media, Mr Yudhoyono might well avoid a second round run-off in September. He said he did not believe the early count would reflect the final result.
For this he needs more than 50% of the vote, and 20% in all 33 provinces. 'People's day'
"Today is the people's day," Mr Yudhoyono told reporters after casting his vote in the town of Bogor, on Java island. This was only the second direct presidential election since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998, and about 170 million people were eligible to vote.
To avoid a run-off, Mr Yudhoyono needs more than 50% of the vote, and 20% in all 33 provinces.
"Today is the people's day," he told reporters after casting his vote in the town of Bogor, on Java island.
The 59-year-old former general was elected in Indonesia's first direct election in 2004, defeating then-President Megawati.The 59-year-old former general was elected in Indonesia's first direct election in 2004, defeating then-President Megawati.
He has been boosted by the success of the economy and a corruption-free image, correspondents say.He has been boosted by the success of the economy and a corruption-free image, correspondents say.