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Mali to announce election results Mali to announce election results
(about 3 hours later)
Initial results are due after Sunday's presidential election in Mali. Official results are due on Tuesday after presidential elections in Mali.
President Amadou Toumani Toure - who is seeking a second and final five-year term - was seen as a clear favourite.President Amadou Toumani Toure - who is seeking a second and final five-year term - was seen as a clear favourite.
Although officially running as an independent, Mr Toure, known as "ATT", was backed by more than 30 parties in the West African nation. Although officially running as an independent, Mr Toure, known as "ATT", was backed by more than 30 parties in Sunday's poll.
Opposition candidates say the voters' list favours the incumbent, accusing Mr Toure's supporters of using state assets to fund his electoral campaign.Opposition candidates say the voters' list favours the incumbent, accusing Mr Toure's supporters of using state assets to fund his electoral campaign.
The strongest opposition challenger is Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the president of Mali's national assembly and former prime minister who came third in the 2002 poll.The strongest opposition challenger is Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the president of Mali's national assembly and former prime minister who came third in the 2002 poll.
Cotton farmersCotton farmers
There were no reports of any violence during the polls.There were no reports of any violence during the polls.
"All has gone well, according to what our teams have observed - no incident has been reported," former Haiti Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, who is heading the OIF organisation of French-speaking countries' team of observers, told the AFP news agency."All has gone well, according to what our teams have observed - no incident has been reported," former Haiti Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, who is heading the OIF organisation of French-speaking countries' team of observers, told the AFP news agency.
Mali leader's life in pictures Part of Mr Toure's popularity stems from the fact that he played a leading role in ending military dictatorship with a coup 16 years ago, says BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross.Mali leader's life in pictures Part of Mr Toure's popularity stems from the fact that he played a leading role in ending military dictatorship with a coup 16 years ago, says BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross.
He then organised elections in 1992 and handed power over to the winner, Alpha Oumar Konare.He then organised elections in 1992 and handed power over to the winner, Alpha Oumar Konare.
Mr Toure was elected president in 2002, after Mr Konare had served two terms.Mr Toure was elected president in 2002, after Mr Konare had served two terms.
Turnout was expected to be low as more than a third of voters did not pick up their registration cards.Turnout was expected to be low as more than a third of voters did not pick up their registration cards.
Taxi driver Camara said voting "serves no purpose... because democracy is now well established in this country."Taxi driver Camara said voting "serves no purpose... because democracy is now well established in this country."
Mali is Africa's third largest gold producer but the vast majority of the country's 14 million people live off the land, our correspondent says.Mali is Africa's third largest gold producer but the vast majority of the country's 14 million people live off the land, our correspondent says.
The plight of the cotton farmers had been a key election issue, he says.The plight of the cotton farmers had been a key election issue, he says.
Analysts hope the elections will go some way to boost democracy in the region, especially after the widely criticised polls in Nigeria, our correspondent says.Analysts hope the elections will go some way to boost democracy in the region, especially after the widely criticised polls in Nigeria, our correspondent says.
One African human rights organisation has said that democracy seems to be losing steam.One African human rights organisation has said that democracy seems to be losing steam.
If no candidate gets an absolute majority in the first round, the two top candidates will compete in a run-off in two weeks' time.If no candidate gets an absolute majority in the first round, the two top candidates will compete in a run-off in two weeks' time.