Election turnout in East Timor is large and peaceful

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/09/asia/timor.php

DILI, East Timor: East Timorese streamed to the polls on Monday to vote for a president, hoping the election can help end deep divisions after a year of instability in one of the world's youngest and poorest nations.

More than half a million people are eligible to vote in the election, which the departing president, Xanana Gusmão, says is a chance to demonstrate that East Timor is not a failed state. He is not a candidate for re-election.

Supporters of rival candidates clashed during campaigning last week, injuring more than 30 and prompting international troops to fire tear gas and warning shots.

"This election is important for the country's future," said Rogerio dos Santos, a 30-year-old farmer, before casting his ballot in an elementary school. "I hope the new president will lift us out of the crisis."

Turnout appeared to be high. Although official results are not expected until next week, an electoral commission spokesman said that preliminary results could emerge as early as Tuesday.

There was no violence today, only some verbal abuse in several places," the spokesman, Marinho Gusmão, also said.

Dili was calm on Monday, although residents said that overnight two soldiers described as drunk had fired shots while stopping traffic. No one was hurt in the incident, the residents said.

Campaigns have focused on how to reunite the East Timorese, who are split by an east-west divide that erupted into bloodshed last May after the dismissal of 600 mutinous troops from the western region.

Eight candidates are running for president, including Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who led an overseas campaign for independence from Indonesia, which was gained in a referendum in 1999. The country of about 900,000 moved from United Nations control to full independence in 2002.

If no one wins more than half the vote, a runoff will be held, a likely scenario.

Gusmão, an ally of Ramos-Horta, plans to seek the more hands-on post of prime minister in a parliamentary election later this year.

Ramos-Horta, speaking to reporters while waiting to vote, said he was happy with the conduct of the election.

"Despite some flaws, despite some intimidation, it can be said to be free and fair," he said.

About 3,000 international troops and police officers were on patrol during the elections, while about 200 international observers monitored the voting.

"There have been a few problems in the districts, but it's completely normal in any election," said Javier Pomes Ruiz of the European Union monitoring mission.

No figures were made public about voter turnout, but all districts reported many voters outside election stations before they opened at 7 a.m., according to the election logistics body.

Some of the 700 polling stations are so remote that paper ballots had to be delivered on horses.

Nevertheless, shortages of ballots were reported in some areas outside the capital. The electoral commission's spokesman said an additional 101 boxes of ballots would be sent to selected districts.

Gusmão has blamed last week's clashes on the Fretilin Party of the ousted prime minister, Mari Alkatiri, accusing its leaders of allowing supporters to provoke violence.

The party has denied the charges.

Fretilin's candidate, Francisco Guterres, a former guerrilla fighter known as "Lu'Olo," is among the favorites in the election.