Indonesia's Yudhoyono faces second round run-off

Retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono failed to win a majority in the first round of Indonesia's presidential elections and faces a tough campaign ahead of a September 20 run-off.

Yudhoyono himself has warned of violence because so much is at stake for the parties and candidates in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

According to early results, Yudhoyono garnered the highest number of votes in Monday's first round but the percentage was not as high as many had expected.

Indonesia's first direct presidential poll was a landmark for a country and its 220 million people, more used to despots than democrats but where many yearn for stronger leadership to create jobs, eradicate graft and improve security.

The country's stock and currency markets, unnerved by political uncertainty leading up to the election, are likely to trade higher on Tuesday on the smooth and peaceful ballot, although the threat of violence remains.

"In the second round the situation will be head-to-head competition, which of course is rougher," Yudhoyono, a former chief security minister, told reporters on Monday.

"Supporters can be prone to provocation and agitation, so the key is everyone, the candidates, campaign teams and supporters, should all restrain themselves."

The cool-headed Yudhoyono, 54, was projected to win 34 percent of Monday's vote, a representative sample of ballots by the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute and a local research organization showed.

It gave President Megawati Sukarnoputri 25 percent, while former armed forces chief Wiranto took 24 percent.

That margin was too small to say who Yudhoyono would face in the run-off, said the groups late on Monday. Their projections have been highly accurate in the past.

By 6:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, Indonesia's election commission said Yudhoyono had 33.1 percent of the vote, Megawati 26.7 percent and Wiranto 23.4 percent. The counted ballots represented 8.5 percent of 153 million eligible voters.

Unofficial reports put turn-out at more than 80 percent.

Source: CD/Agencies