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| Armenia President Serge Sarkisian 'wins new term' | Armenia President Serge Sarkisian 'wins new term' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Armenian President Serge Sarkisian has won a second five-year term in office, according to preliminary results. | |
| With ballots from most precincts counted, Mr Sarkisian had about 60% of the vote. | |
| His closest rival, Raffi Hovannisian, took about 35%. | |
| Observers have criticised the election for failing to present voters with any real choice, after several of Mr Sarkisian's most well-known opponents withdrew from the contest. | Observers have criticised the election for failing to present voters with any real choice, after several of Mr Sarkisian's most well-known opponents withdrew from the contest. |
| One of the candidates was shot last month in a suspected assassination attempt. | One of the candidates 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, had said he would not vote on Monday because he believed the poll would be rigged in favour of the president. | And a fifth, Arman Melikyan, had said he would not vote on Monday because he believed the poll would 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". |
| Poverty rife | Poverty rife |
| "I voted today for Armenia's future - for the well-being of our citizens and families," Mr Sarkisian said after voting in the capital, Yerevan. | "I voted today for Armenia's future - for the well-being of our citizens and families," Mr Sarkisian said after voting in the capital, Yerevan. |
| "These were shameful elections with a huge number of violations. The results of the exit poll do not show reality but what the authorities wanted," Mr Hovannisian's spokesman, Hovsep Khurshudian, told AFP. | "These were shameful elections with a huge number of violations. The results of the exit poll do not show reality but what the authorities wanted," Mr Hovannisian's spokesman, Hovsep Khurshudian, told AFP. |
| Police dismissed his claims and there were no reports of violence. | Police dismissed his claims and there were no reports of violence. |
| Official results are expected to be announced on Tuesday, when observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also give their verdict. | Official results are expected to be announced on Tuesday, when observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also give their verdict. |
| Mr Sarkisian's victory in the last election in 2008 was followed by deadly clashes between police and opposition supporters, who alleged widespread fraud. | Mr Sarkisian's victory in the last election in 2008 was followed by deadly clashes between police and opposition supporters, who alleged widespread fraud. |
| The president's supporters said Monday's vote would show the former Soviet republic was 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 said Monday's vote would show the former Soviet republic was 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. |
| The country has found it difficult to escape from poverty, partly because of a trade blockade imposed by neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan since the 1990s war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. | The country has found it difficult to escape from poverty, partly because of a trade blockade imposed by neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan since the 1990s war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. |