Madagascar votes in landmark run-off election

Madagascans are taking to the polls in a run-off elections aimed at pulling the island out of the political and economic dolu and restoring democracy.

Citizens hope Friday's vote will end the crisis sparked by Any Rajoelina's coup four years ago, which paralyzed much of the government and caused foreign donors to cancel aid.

Both Rajoelina and the man he ousted in March 2009, Marc Ravalomanana, have been blocked from running, amid international pressure over fears of a return to violence.

Instead, proxy candidates took part and won the two top places during a first round of voting on October 25.

Freemason doctor and former health minister Robinson Jean Louis is seen as a slight favourite after winning 21.16 percent in the first round.

He enjoys the support of exiled leader Ravalomanana, who spoke at his rallies via phone from South Africa.

His opponent, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, an astute businessman and former finance minister under Rajoelina, won 15.85 percent.

Campaigning wrapped up on Wednesday with a heated televised debate, after both candidates earlier adessed thousands of supporters at rallies in the capital Antananarivo.

"We won't accept vote-rigging. The people are with us to survey the vote," said Jean Louis amid concerns over irregularities.

If elected, he vowed to allow his mentor Ravalomanana to return.

A few kilometres away, Rajoelina danced on stage at his protégé's rally.

"We have listened to the people, we have met a people who want to fight against poverty," Rajaonarimampianina told the crowd.

More than 7.9 million Madagascans qualify to vote in the elections, which will also select 151 lawmakers.

Initial results are expected this weekend. Candidates from Rajoelina's camp won more than 50 percent in the first round, but not all of these have supported Rajaonarimampianina's bid.

If voters followed their first-round candidates' endorsements, Jean Louis would get 42.9 percent of the ballots, and Rajaonarimampianina 34.3 percent.

Both candidates have promised a vast infrastructure construction programme for the Indian Ocean island, which is roughly the size of France and has a population of 22 million.

Nine out of 10 people in Madagascar live on less than $2 a day.

Election authorities said they had solved mishaps from the October vote, including restoring the names of 168,000 people left off the voters' roll.

A special electoral court caused confusion Wednesday night by barring Rajoelina from taking part in campaigns -- though campaigning had ended on that day.

Polls opened at 6:00 am (03:00 GMT) and officially close at 5:00 pm (14:00 GMT), though stations will stay open to serve people already in the queue by then.

The election commission should announce the vote results January 7 at the latest, to be confirmed by the election commission by February 18.