INDONESIA: An urbane former general who promises to fight terror and clean up government is headed for an overwhelming victory against incumbent Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia's first direct presidential election.
Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (55), Ms Megawati's one-time chief security minister, had won 59 per cent of 10 million votes counted as of noon Irish time yesterday, the election commission said. Ms Megawati (57) had 41 per cent.
A coalition of independent survey groups said Mr Yudhoyono would win 62 per cent, with Ms Megawati getting 38 per cent, according to a sample taken from across the world's most populous Muslim nation. Some 151 million people were eligible to vote.
Showing the caution which has led many analysts to predict he lacks the boldness to tackle Indonesia's chronic problems, Mr Yudhoyono refused to get carried away by the projections. However, he has sought to reach out to Ms Megawati, who in public has refused to shake his hand since he quit her cabinet in March after a bitter row over his presidential ambitions.
Most observers said turnout was good but official estimates were not immediately available.
Yesterday's run-off capped a draining election season in Indonesia which began with parliamentary polls in April.
The direct ballots - a rarity in the Muslim world - showed Indonesia's democracy has matured six years since the downfall of longtime strongman President Mohamed Suharto and after predictions of violence between rival party supporters proved unfounded.
The poll was held under the shadow of possible attacks by Islamic militants linked to al- Qaeda, who on September 9th killed nine people and wounded 182 in a car bombing at the Australian embassy in Jakarta, the third major strike in two years.
Tens of thousands of police were on high alert, although there were no reports of incidents long after polls closed. "There are absolutely no problems or no reports of any difficulty here," Mr Glyn Ford, chief of an EU observer mission said in Jakarta.
Despite the running count of results issued by the election commission, the final result will only be declared on October 5th.
The presidential inauguration is scheduled for October 20th.
Although Mr Yudhoyono has served in successive cabinets and rose through the ranks under President Suharto, many Indonesians see him as representing a break from the country's corrupt past.
Mr Yudhoyono's tough talk on terror has also made the graduate of US army courses a favourite of Western governments who see Indonesia as a frontline state in the war on terrorism, although he has yet to shake off suggestions he is too indecisive.
Ms Megawati took office in 2001 after her predecessor was sacked by parliament. She was accused of aloof and lacklustre leadership, even though she helped to stabilise Indonesia.
Mr Yudhoyono won the first round of the election on July 5th, but failed to win an outright majority against Ms Megawati and three other candidates, forcing the run-off.
The daunting challenges ahead are catching militants before they strike again, revitalising a sluggish economy and bringing accountability to one of the world's most corrupt societies.