Comorans are going to the polls on Sunday to choose between three candidates, including frontrunner Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who finished first in the primaries last month, hoping the winner will improve the country's economy and bring stability to the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The African Union (AU) has sent 800 more troops to Comoros to enhance safety of the coup-plagued Indian Ocean island nation's presidential election. This brings the total number of AU troops in Comoros, led by South Africa, to some 1,260.

The polling stations open at 0700 (0400 GMT) and close at 1800 (1500 GMT). Initial returns are expected to come out 72 hours after the end of the voting, according to the Comoran National Electoral Commission, but final results are not expected until the Constitutional Court validates the tally.

This year's election is the first one for the islands country to see presidency rotate from one island to another.

Comorans agreed in 2001, following an elaborate reconciliation, to share power between a national government and the trio of islands -- Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. Each island gets the federal presidency every four years.

Incumbent President Azali Assoumani comes from Grand Comore, therefore it is now Anjouan's turn. Moheli, the smallest island of the Union of Comoros, is due to take presidency in 2010.

The primary election was held on April 16 in Anjouan while the election on Sunday is a nationwide voting.

Source: Xinhua