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Kenya votes in presidential poll Kenyans vote amid fears of fraud
(about 3 hours later)
People in Kenya are going to the polls to elect a new president in an atmosphere of tension and suspicion. Long queues of voters are waiting to cast their ballots, as Kenyans choose a president in an atmosphere marred by accusations of poll rigging.
The campaign, in which President Mwai Kibaki is seeking a second term, has been marred by claims that officials were planning to rig the vote. President Mwai Kibaki is seeking a second term, in what is seen as the tightest election in Kenya's history.
"I have not even milked my cow because today we are putting our country first," said Mary Muthoni Gikiri as she waited to vote.
Mr Kibaki faces his toughest challenge from his former ally, Raila Odinga.
Mr Odinga has been the front-runner in opinion polls in recent weeks - yet his team has accused the president's side of dirty tricks.
'Rumours'
The queue of voters stretches for more than a kilometre outside one Nairobi polling station.
In the western town of Kisumu, the line of people at a primary school goes across a football pitch.
Kibaki: Dream or nightmare?Odinga: King-maker But in the slum of Kibera, tempers are fraying, as voting has not started, more than two hours late.
Correspondents say the final hours before polls were characterised by mud-slinging, with Mr Odinga's supporters accusing the president of using state security agents to help rig the polls.
Three police officers were killed after the opposition alleged that they were carrying pre-marked ballot papers.Three police officers were killed after the opposition alleged that they were carrying pre-marked ballot papers.
Mr Kibaki is facing his toughest challenge from a former cabinet colleague, Raila Odinga.
More than 14 million Kenyans are eligible to vote in what is expected to be the most tightly fought contest the country has ever seen.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says long queues of voters formed outside polling stations early on Thursday morning, hours before they were due to open.
Rigging denial
President Kibaki is trying to secure a second term, running under the banner of a broad-based coalition known as the Party of National Unity.
Mr Odinga heads up the Orange Democratic Movement.
Once an ally of the president, Mr Odinga has been the frontrunner in opinion polls in recent weeks - yet his team has accused the president's side of dirty tricks.
Correspondents say the final hours before polls were characterised by mudslinging, with Mr Odinga's supporters accusing the president of using state security agents to help rig the polls.
In response, the president issued a statement denying any such plans.In response, the president issued a statement denying any such plans.
Chief EU election monitor Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said he had not received any evidence of rigging.
"So far this is at the level of rumours and allegations."
More than 14 million Kenyans are eligible to vote - they are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.
President Kibaki, running under the banner of a broad-based coalition known as the Party of National Unity, hopes his economic record will secure a second term.
Mr Odinga, who heads the Orange Democratic Movement, played a key role in Mr Kibaki's 2002 victory.
But the pair fell out soon afterwards.
Mr Kibaki's critics accuse him of failing to keep his promise to tackle corruption.
There are eight candidates standing in the presidential elections.There are eight candidates standing in the presidential elections.
Kenyans will also be voting in parliamentary and local elections on Thursday.