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| East Timor polls open for presidential election | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| East Timor has begun voting in the first round of its presidential election this weekend, in a year that marks a decade of independence. | |
| Incumbent Jose Ramos Horta is one of 12 candidates standing. | Incumbent Jose Ramos Horta is one of 12 candidates standing. |
| The president, a largely ceremonial role, is elected by an absolute majority popular vote through a two-round system. | The president, a largely ceremonial role, is elected by an absolute majority popular vote through a two-round system. |
| This is a landmark year that will see a security transition - with United Nations forces due to leave. | This is a landmark year that will see a security transition - with United Nations forces due to leave. |
| The polls are widely expected to be a three-way race among Nobel Peace Prize winner and current president, Mr Ramos Horta, former armed forces chief Taur Matan Ruak (or ''TMR'' as he is known), and former parliamentary speaker Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres. | The polls are widely expected to be a three-way race among Nobel Peace Prize winner and current president, Mr Ramos Horta, former armed forces chief Taur Matan Ruak (or ''TMR'' as he is known), and former parliamentary speaker Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres. |
| Francisco Xavier do Amaral, East Timor's first and shortest-serving president, had intended to join the race in what would have been his third presidency bid, but died of cancer earlier this month. | Francisco Xavier do Amaral, East Timor's first and shortest-serving president, had intended to join the race in what would have been his third presidency bid, but died of cancer earlier this month. |
| He was president for just nine days in 1975 before Indonesia invaded East Timor. | He was president for just nine days in 1975 before Indonesia invaded East Timor. |
| More than two decades of bloody guerrilla warfare ensued during Indonesian rule, ending in a violent vote for separation in 1999. East Timor gained independence in 2002 after three years of UN administration. | More than two decades of bloody guerrilla warfare ensued during Indonesian rule, ending in a violent vote for separation in 1999. East Timor gained independence in 2002 after three years of UN administration. |
| 'Peaceful atmosphere' | 'Peaceful atmosphere' |
| After a decade, UN security forces that have been based there are scheduled to leave at the end of the year. The impoverished nation, which the International Monetary Fund has billed as the most oil-dependent economy in the world, will elect a new government in June. | After a decade, UN security forces that have been based there are scheduled to leave at the end of the year. The impoverished nation, which the International Monetary Fund has billed as the most oil-dependent economy in the world, will elect a new government in June. |
| East Timor, which has also applied to join the Association of South East Asian Nations, is faced with a host of domestic issues from child malnutrition to gang violence, growing unemployment and corruption. | East Timor, which has also applied to join the Association of South East Asian Nations, is faced with a host of domestic issues from child malnutrition to gang violence, growing unemployment and corruption. |
| It also needs to rebuild infrastructure damaged through years of violence and bloodshed. | It also needs to rebuild infrastructure damaged through years of violence and bloodshed. |
| A group of international poll monitors, including a large number of Australians, have begun arriving in East Timor ahead of the vote on Saturday, ABC News reported. | A group of international poll monitors, including a large number of Australians, have begun arriving in East Timor ahead of the vote on Saturday, ABC News reported. |
| The mood in the capital Dili is calm, Michael Maley, a volunteer observer told the Australian broadcaster. | The mood in the capital Dili is calm, Michael Maley, a volunteer observer told the Australian broadcaster. |
| Factional clashes that broke out in 2006 ahead of the last elections in 2007 had left more than 30 people dead and drove hundreds of thousands into refugee camps. | Factional clashes that broke out in 2006 ahead of the last elections in 2007 had left more than 30 people dead and drove hundreds of thousands into refugee camps. |
| "So one of the really nice things to see here now is that life has very much returned to normal,'' said Mr Maley. ''There's a very peaceful atmosphere." | "So one of the really nice things to see here now is that life has very much returned to normal,'' said Mr Maley. ''There's a very peaceful atmosphere." |