Millionaire awaits countdown

2006-12-03 21:40

Antananarivo - Madagascar voted on Sunday in a presidential election widely expected to be won by incumbent Marc Ravalomanana, a self-made dairy tycoon.

Voting on the world's fourth biggest island started calmly at 07:00 and was due to end at 18:00.

The winner will need more than 50% of votes to avoid a second-round run-off.

Ravalamonana, who won power in 2002 after a bitter eight-month crisis that brought Madagascar close to civil war, is bidding for a second term to continue economic reforms in one of the world's poorest countries.

If he fails, a second round will be held in late January.

Ravalomanana, who began his career selling yoghurts from the back of a bike, confirmed his frontrunner status on Friday when he pulled in more than 30 000 enthusiastic supporters to his last campaign rally.

13 opponents

Final rallies by his opponents attracted less than 1 000 people.

Many Madagascans believe the result is a foregone conclusion even though some, especially in the cities where the impact of rising global oil prices is felt most strongly, say the president did not do enough in his first term to combat poverty.

There are 13 opposition candidates, including the only woman, Elia Ravelomanantsoa.

But, several are boycotting the poll and the others started their campaigns late after haggling about procedural issues.

The strongest challenge is likely to come from veteran politician Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana, 68, a former prime minister who many expect to face Ravalomanana if the vote goes to a second round.

The next strongest challenger is businessman Herizo Razafimahaleo, a Western-educated economist who has attacked Ravalomanana's record in combating Madagascar's extreme poverty.

But Western donors and many Madagascans, especially in the countryside, credit Ravalomanana with starting significant reforms to repair the economy, including an ambitious road-building programme.

- Reuters