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| Armenia President Sarkisian expected to win re-election | Armenia President Sarkisian expected to win re-election |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Armenians are voting in a presidential election, with the incumbent Serge Sarkisian expected to win a second five-year term in office. | Armenians are voting in a presidential election, with the incumbent Serge Sarkisian expected to win a second five-year term in office. |
| The vote has been condemned as not presenting voters with any real choice, with observers saying Mr Sarkisian's only credible opponents have withdrawn. | The vote has been condemned as not presenting voters with any real choice, with observers saying Mr Sarkisian's only credible opponents have withdrawn. |
| Polls suggest he will win more than 60% of the vote. The Heritage Party leader, Raffi Hovannisian, is his main rival. | Polls suggest he will win more than 60% of the vote. The Heritage Party leader, Raffi Hovannisian, is his main rival. |
| Another candidate was shot last month in a suspected assassination attempt. | Another candidate was shot last month in a suspected assassination attempt. |
| Paruyr Hayrikyan of the National Self-Determination Union was wounded in the shoulder outside his home near Yerevan. He was readmitted to hospital earlier this week after saying he did not feel well. | Paruyr Hayrikyan of the National Self-Determination Union was wounded in the shoulder outside his home near Yerevan. He was readmitted to hospital earlier this week after saying he did not feel well. |
| A fourth candidate, Andrias Ghukasyan, has meanwhile been on hunger strike since the start of the campaign in an effort to persuade the authorities to annul Mr Sarkisian's candidacy and press international observers to boycott the election. | A fourth candidate, Andrias Ghukasyan, has meanwhile been on hunger strike since the start of the campaign in an effort to persuade the authorities to annul Mr Sarkisian's candidacy and press international observers to boycott the election. |
| And a fifth, Arman Melikyan, has said he will not vote on Monday because he believes the poll will be rigged in favour of the president. | And a fifth, Arman Melikyan, has said he will not vote on Monday because he believes the poll will be rigged in favour of the president. |
| Last month, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed great concern that "major political parties, which were strongly expected to present presidential candidates, chose not to do so because of their lack of trust in the conduct of the election". | Last month, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed great concern that "major political parties, which were strongly expected to present presidential candidates, chose not to do so because of their lack of trust in the conduct of the election". |
| Mr Sarkisian's victory in the last election in 2008 sparked deadly clashes between police and opposition supporters, who alleged widespread fraud. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the vote had mostly met international standards. | Mr Sarkisian's victory in the last election in 2008 sparked deadly clashes between police and opposition supporters, who alleged widespread fraud. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the vote had mostly met international standards. |
| The president's supporters say Monday's vote will be free of violence and allegations of fraud, and that they will show the former Soviet republic is now politically stable. Last May's parliamentary elections, won by Mr Sarkisian's Republican Party, took place without any major incidents. | The president's supporters say Monday's vote will be free of violence and allegations of fraud, and that they will show the former Soviet republic is now politically stable. Last May's parliamentary elections, won by Mr Sarkisian's Republican Party, took place without any major incidents. |
| The economy has been the major issue in the build-up to the election. | The economy has been the major issue in the build-up to the election. |
| Although the economy grew about 7% in 2012, unemployment stands at 16% and more than 30% of the population live below the poverty line. | Although the economy grew about 7% in 2012, unemployment stands at 16% and more than 30% of the population live below the poverty line. |
| Trade has been affected by a blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan since the 1990s war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. | Trade has been affected by a blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan since the 1990s war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. |