EAST TIMOR: Locals and international observers look on as polling station in capital Dili begins counting votes

Record ID: 327736

  • Title: EAST TIMOR: Locals and international observers look on as polling station in capital Dili begins counting votes
  • Date: 18th March 2012
  • Summary: DILI, EAST TIMOR (MARCH 17, 2012) (REUTERS) LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIAL READING OUT NAME OF CANDIDATE FROM BALLOT PAPER PEOPLE WATCHING AT LOCAL POLLING STATION OFFICIAL READING OUT CANDIDATE'S NAME OFFICIAL WRITING TALLY ON PAPER FOR VOTE COUNT CLOSE ON WRITING ON PAPER OFFICIAL PICKING UP BALLOT PAPER OFFICIAL READING OUT AND SHOWING BALLOT PAPER TO PEOPLE WIDE LOCAL POLLING STATION COUNTING VOTE CLOSE ON RESULT WRITTEN ON PAPER LOCALS AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN OBSERVER, JUDITH PATRICIA ANDREWS, SAYING: "All I know is what I have seen here, and it's been very happy and successful, people have been getting in to vote and seem to be very committed to voting and realise the importance of it." ANDREWS' IDENTITY CARD PEOPLE WATCHING COUNTING PROCESS PEOPLE APPLAUDING FOR THEIR CANDIDATE MORE LOCAL VOTE COUNTING
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Timor-Leste
  • Country: Timor-Leste
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6A0LXXNCI2G0LT1RCVB8YTLJV
  • Story Text: East Timor's first-round presidential election ended peacefully late on Saturday (March 17), with polling stations now counting votes ahead of a provisional result due on Sunday (March 18).
    The election is seen as a critical test of whether Asia's youngest and poorest country can maintain stability and build confidence to develop the economy. The contest pits incumbent and Nobel Peace prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta against 11 challengers.
    Analysts predicted a close finish, with Ramos-Horta facing a battle from four leading rivals to stay in office in East Timor, the eastern half of an island at the eastern end of the vast Indonesian archipelago.
    International observer Judith Patricia Andrews said the day's voting had been successful.
    "All I know is what I have seen here, and it's been very happy and successful, people have been getting in to vote and seem to be very committed to voting and realise the importance of it," she said.
    The national election commission was due to announce provisional results late on Saturday, but delays in returns from outlying districts could delay the announcement until Sunday (March 18). Official results are to be announced a week after the election.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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