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Indonesia vote: Exit polls give Widodo slim lead Indonesia vote: Both Widodo and Subianto claim victory
(about 2 hours later)
Exit polls give Jakarta governor Joko Widodo a narrow lead in Indonesia's presidential election, in a tight race with ex-army general Prabowo Subianto. Both candidates in the Indonesia presidential election have claimed victory based on unofficial results.
Official results are not expected for two weeks but quick counts by pollsters - which are considered reliable - give Mr Widodo a slim lead over his rival. Jakarta governor Joko Widodo told a news conference shortly after polls closed that "at the time being" early vote counts showed he was the winner.
Based on the tallies, Mr Widodo's party says he has won - but Mr Prabowo's camp says it is too close to call. An hour later, former army general Prabowo Subianto said estimates showed he had "received the support and mandate from the people of Indonesia".
The official tally is expected to be announced on 22 July. The official tally is expected to be announced on 21-22 July.
Preliminary exit polls appear to show Mr Widodo has a lead of at least four percentage points. Ahead of final results, so-called "quick counts" by pollsters - which have been reliable in the past - are being released from some 2,000 representative polling stations around the country.
One exit poll led by Indonesia's oldest think tank CSIS Indonesia put him ahead with 52% of the vote, compared with Mr Subianto who was on 48%. Reuters reported five vote tallying agencis had Mr Widodo in the lead. One count by Indonesia's oldest think tank CSIS Indonesia put him ahead with 52% of the vote, compared with Mr Subianto's 48%.
Another poll led by news website Kompas.com had a similar result, while a third by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting put Mr Widodo on 52.76% and Mr Subianto on 47.24%, according to agencies. Another by news website Kompas.com had a similar result, while a third by Saiful Mujani put Mr Widodo on 52.76% and Mr Subianto on 47.24%.
Mr Widodo was quick to claim victory based on the exit polls - an hour later his rival also declared he had won. But Reuters reported that two other vote tallying agencies had put Mr Subianto ahead by one to two percentage points.
Voting opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 13:00 local time. Indonesia has three times zones and the last ballots were cast just before 06:00GMT. Karishma Vaswani, BBC News, Jakarta
This is the most divisive election Indonesia has ever seen and supporters from both camps think their man should be in charge.
On national television, furniture-maker-turned-politician Joko Widodo was the first to announce his team had won. Next came Prabowo Subianto, an ex-military general, telling supporters that he is president-elect.
With both sides already celebrating victory, Indonesia faces uncertainty before official results in two weeks - until then the country remains in limbo whiles votes are counted.
Indonesians have been eagerly anticipating the results - now all that's certain is that the suspense and confusion will continue.
'Respect the choice''Respect the choice'
Voting opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 13:00 local time.
Indonesia has three times zones and the last ballots were cast just before 06:00GMT.
Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could not stand for another term as the constitution has a two-term limit. After casting his ballot, he urged all parties to respect the poll result.Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could not stand for another term as the constitution has a two-term limit. After casting his ballot, he urged all parties to respect the poll result.
"Our democracy is at a relatively mature state, and our people enjoy the freedom to choose," the outgoing leader said."Our democracy is at a relatively mature state, and our people enjoy the freedom to choose," the outgoing leader said.
"Therefore, I hereby urge all the leaders and political elites in this country to respect the rights of the people, respect the freedom of the people to choose their leader.""Therefore, I hereby urge all the leaders and political elites in this country to respect the rights of the people, respect the freedom of the people to choose their leader."
Mr Widodo, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is a popular figure with the public.Mr Widodo, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is a popular figure with the public.
He is supported by young people in both urban and rural areas who see him as a clean politician in a country beset by corruption.He is supported by young people in both urban and rural areas who see him as a clean politician in a country beset by corruption.
But critics say he lacks experience in national politics and international relations.But critics say he lacks experience in national politics and international relations.
He is supported by Indonesia's most popular Islamic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the National Democrat Party (NasDem).He is supported by Indonesia's most popular Islamic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the National Democrat Party (NasDem).
Alice Budisatrijo, BBC News, Jakarta:
A steady stream of people have been coming in to a polling station in the crowded Menteng neighbourhood in Jakarta. The population is so dense that there are four polling stations within a 300m radius.
Officials were not quite ready at 07:00 local time (23:00 GMT) when the booths were supposed to open. But early voters waited patiently as many people in the football-mad country stayed up all night watching the Germany-Brazil game.
Today's turn-out is expected to be high as this is a contest that has generated an unprecedented enthusiasm about the country's future leader. While the two candidates' visions for the country sound similar, their drastically different personalities have captivated and divided the nation.
The test for Indonesia's democracy will be when the results are announced. Patience and tolerance may be in shorter supply.
Mr Subianto, from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), is seen as a convincing campaigner and a decisive man with good knowledge of defence, because of his military background.Mr Subianto, from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), is seen as a convincing campaigner and a decisive man with good knowledge of defence, because of his military background.
He has, however, been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses committed during former dictator Suharto's regime, which ended in 1998.He has, however, been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses committed during former dictator Suharto's regime, which ended in 1998.
In the final days of Suharto's rule, the unit which he commanded is accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing activists protesting against Suharto.In the final days of Suharto's rule, the unit which he commanded is accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing activists protesting against Suharto.
Mr Subianto is supported by Golkar, which is Indonesia's second largest party. He is also endorsed by the Democratic Party (Demokrat) of current leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.Mr Subianto is supported by Golkar, which is Indonesia's second largest party. He is also endorsed by the Democratic Party (Demokrat) of current leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Both campaigns have used nationalistic rhetoric on the economy, corruption and other domestic issues such as infrastructure and social security, but they have been less vocal on detailed policies on job creation and boosting economic growth.Both campaigns have used nationalistic rhetoric on the economy, corruption and other domestic issues such as infrastructure and social security, but they have been less vocal on detailed policies on job creation and boosting economic growth.
Ahead of the vote, election officials delivered ballot boxes to polling stations around the country, ferrying them to Indonesia's numerous islands by speedboat, carrying them on horseback along mountain paths, and dropping them off at remote hamlets with helicopters and small planes.Ahead of the vote, election officials delivered ballot boxes to polling stations around the country, ferrying them to Indonesia's numerous islands by speedboat, carrying them on horseback along mountain paths, and dropping them off at remote hamlets with helicopters and small planes.
Meanwhile in Jakarta the authorities deployed 22,300 policemen to keep the peace, reports say.Meanwhile in Jakarta the authorities deployed 22,300 policemen to keep the peace, reports say.
The new president will be inaugurated on 20 October and will have to appoint a cabinet within two weeks.
Are you in Indonesia? Did you vote? What are your hopes for the future? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Indonesia'.Are you in Indonesia? Did you vote? What are your hopes for the future? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Indonesia'.