Indonesians will vote on Monday to directly elect their president for the first time.

The election follows a transition to democracy in the world's most populous Muslim nation since Suharto quit in 1998.

In a Sunday broadcast, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri urged all candidates and their supporters to ensure the election process was peaceful.

More than 150 million people will be eligible to vote across Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of 17,000 islands and 220 million people. In the past, a legislative body chose leaders.

Opinion surveys released this week gave a former chief security minister, General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a lead of more than 20 percent over his nearest rivals but slightly less than the 50 percent threshold needed for an outright victory.

A poll released Friday showed Megawati running second, slightly ahead of another general, Wiranto, who had been armed forces commander under Suharto.

Source: CRI