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First post-war polls in Sri Lanka Sri Lankan post-war poll closes
(about 15 hours later)
The first elections in Sri Lanka since the civil war ended in May are being held in the Tamil-dominated north. The first elections in Sri Lanka since the civil war ended in May have been held in the Tamil-dominated north.
The government has described the votes in Jaffna and Vavuniya, as well as in the southern province of Uva, as a step towards normality in the country.The government has described the votes in Jaffna and Vavuniya, as well as in the southern province of Uva, as a step towards normality in the country.
However, journalists from independent media have been banned from going to the northern towns to cover the voting. However, independent journalists were prevented from covering the poll and turnout was low.
On Friday, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said it had arrested the new head of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebel group. It comes after officials said on Friday they had arrested the new head of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebel group.
Selvarasa Pathmanathan was detained abroad and was being questioned in Sri Lanka, it said. The rebels have confirmed the arrest.Selvarasa Pathmanathan was detained abroad and was being questioned in Sri Lanka, it said. The rebels have confirmed the arrest.
Refugees No voting cards
Voters in the two towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya in the Tamil-dominated north will have to choose between a broad government coalition, the main opposition party, which is weaker, and an umbrella group supportive of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Voters in the two towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya had a choice between a broad government coalition, the main opposition party, which is weaker, and an umbrella group supportive of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
There are smaller parties too, including a moderate Tamil one contesting Jaffna. Smaller parties also competed, including a moderate Tamil group contesting Jaffna.
Voting was reported to have been smooth, though there were small scuffles in Vavuniya, one reportedly involving a government minister.
Turnout was low - about 18% in Jaffna and nearer 50% in Vavuniya.
The BBC's Charles Haviland, in the capital Colombo, says that for many the situation is too raw to make voting a priority.
He says one problem has been that many did not receive voting cards, for reasons that are unclear.
One independent monitoring group says people are reluctant to support opposition parties openly, and that most are not very interested in the polling - more worried about the fact that Jaffna is still not open by road to the rest of the island.
Intimidation claims
Despite its victory in May the government continues to tighten its grip on society and life is far from normal in northern Sri Lanka, our correspondent says.
Near Vavuniya, more than 250,000 Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps which they are not allowed to leave.
More than 250,000 Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run campsMore than 250,000 Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps
The government continues to tighten its grip on society despite its victory in May, and has banned all journalists other than the state-controlled media from the towns.
Most reporters will have to cover the vote from afar, dependent on officially sanctioned information and selected video from state broadcasters.
But there will be some electoral monitoring by human rights groups.
Life is far from normal in northern Sri Lanka. Near Vavuniya, more than a quarter of a million Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps which they are not allowed to leave.
Refugees in the north were asked to apply to vote if eligible.Refugees in the north were asked to apply to vote if eligible.
But only 6,000 have registered, mostly in camps away from Vavuniya, and it is not clear how much voter education any of them had. But only 6,000 have registered, mostly in camps separate from the vast ones in Vavuniya, and it is not clear how much voter education any of them have had.
As a result of its victory in the civil war, the government is very popular in the Sinhalese-dominated south and it hopes to do well in the north, too, with a coalition including some parties said to be attached to anti-LTTE Tamil paramilitaries. As a result of its victory in the civil war, the government is very popular in the Sinhalese-dominated south.
Some of the government's opponents have complained they have been obstructed or intimidated in their campaigning. It hopes to do well in the north, too, with a coalition including some parties said to be attached to anti-LTTE Tamil paramilitaries.
Barred from Jaffna, it was impossible for BBC journalists to assess claims and counter-claims made during the campaign, including allegations that Tamils had been intimidated into not voting or that parties from both sides had used armed guards.