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Honduras voters choose new president amid tight security Honduras presidential polls close after big turn-out
(35 minutes later)
Voters in Honduras are choosing a new president, MPs and local mayors amid a heavy security operation. Polls in Honduras have closed after millions voted for a new president, members of parliament and local mayors.
Since the opening of the polls, there have been few violent incidents in the country, authorities say. Polling was extended for one hour to 17:00 local time (23:00GMT) due to a big turn-out. The first results were expected about two hours later.
Earlier, five people were killed near a polling station in an eastern town, but it was not immediately clear if the crime was related to the elections. Voting took place amid tight security, but no serious incidents were reported.
Opinions polls point to a close race between Conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez and Xiomara Castro. Opinions polls point to a close race between conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez and Xiomara Castro, the wife of ousted ex-president Manuel Zelaya.
Mrs Castro is the wife of ex-President Manuel Zelaya, who was removed from office in a coup in 2009. Mr Zelaya was removed from office in a coup in 2009. Mr Hernandez is the candidate of the National Party, which backed the military coup against the former president.
Mr Hernandez is the candidate of the National Party, which backed the coup against Mr Zelaya. Although the electoral law prohibits broadcasting of early trends, the media are allowed to broadcast vote counting.
'High turn-out' The polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (13:00 GMT).
Queues started forming early in the morning and a high turn-out is expected, authorities said. Around 5.4m Hondurans are registered to vote and authorities say there has been a "massive turn-out".
The polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (13:00 GMT) and close at 17:00 at the latest. Authorities say the shooting of five men in the region of La Mosquitia caused panic and delayed the start of the elections in the town.
Around 5.4m Hondurans are registered to vote. But it was not clear if the incident had any link to the polling.
The most serious incident on Sunday was the killing of five men a few metres away from the polling station of Juan Francisco Bulnes, in the eastern La Mosquitia, close to the border with Nicaragua. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. It also has the world's highest murder rate, averaging 20 a day.
Initial reports said it was not clear whether the crimes, which happened shortly before the opening of the polls, had any links to the elections.
Authorities say the shooting caused panic and delayed the start of the process in the town.
Honduras is one of the region's poorest states. It also has the world's highest murder rates, averaging 20 a day.
Much of it is blamed on gang violence and drug traffickers.Much of it is blamed on gang violence and drug traffickers.
Nearly 30,000 police and soldiers are being deployed to ensure security during Sunday's elections. Nearly 30,000 police and soldiers were deployed to ensure security during Sunday's elections.
Some correspondents say the polls give the two main presidential contenders a statistical tie, raising fears of a disputed result that could produce more instability and protests.Some correspondents say the polls give the two main presidential contenders a statistical tie, raising fears of a disputed result that could produce more instability and protests.
A margin of just one vote is needed for a win - there is no run-off election. An electoral tribunal decides whether a recount is necessary, AP reports.A margin of just one vote is needed for a win - there is no run-off election. An electoral tribunal decides whether a recount is necessary, AP reports.