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| Tuesday, 21 September 2004 |
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Yudhoyono takes early lead in Indonesian elections JAKARTA, Monday (AFP) Retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took an early lead over incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri Monday as initial counting began in Indonesia's presidential elections. Ninety minutes after polling stations were closed at 0600 GMT, official figures gave Yudhoyono 350,551 votes, or 56.3 percent of total votes tallied, to Megawati's 43.7 percent. More than 153 million people are eligible to vote in the elections, the first time Indonesians have directly elected their president. Turnout in a first-round presidential poll in July was 78 percent, but analysts expect it to be lower for the run-off vote. A "quick count" is due to be released at 8 pm (1300 GMT) by the Indonesian think tank LP3S and the US-based National Democratic Institute. It produced highly accurate predictions in previous elections this year. Full official counting will not be completed for several weeks across the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago. Yudhoyono, who emerged as frontrunner in the first-round vote and has dominated opinion polls since, is widely expected to unseat Megawati. Meanwhile Security was tight for the country's first direct presidential vote, which came 11 days after a suicide bomber killed nine people outside the Australian embassy - Indonesia's third major Islamic extremist attack in two years. But the last of three elections this year in the archipelago of 18,000 islands seemed to pass without trouble, marking another step forward for a country that has often witnessed turbulent transfers of power. "According to reports that I received this morning, there have been no hitches in this presidential election. Everything went smoothly," said Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno. The retired general was among the first to vote at a polling station in his village of Cikeas, south of Jakarta. "With the assumption that there will be no violations in the counting of the ballots, I do believe, God willing, that I can win this election," he said, thumbs raised in the air, after casting his vote. At ease in front of the camera, Yudhoyono has shown himself a smooth operator in public, endearing him to many in the country where most people survive on less than two dollars a day. In contrast Megawati has been struggling to shake off a reputation as an aloof and uncaring leader, losing support among the country's impoverished "little people". Voting near her private residence in south Jakarta, a typically reticent Megawati arrived several hours after balloting began. Scores of people who turned out to see her were kept waiting. Asked if she was confident of victory, Megawati told AFP: "Yes". |
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