Former resistance fighters vie for presidency in East Timor


  • World
  • Monday, 20 Mar 2017

East Timor presidential candidate Antonio da Conceicao from the Democratic Party (R) arrives to cast his ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Dili, East Timor March 20, 2017. REUTERS/Lirio da Fonseca

DILI (Reuters) - People began voting in East Timor on Monday in a presidential election, with the two main parties backing former independence fighters for the largely ceremonial post as Asia's youngest democracy struggles to combat poverty and chronic unemployment.

Lines formed outside polling booths, as voters queued to choose from a field of eight candidates contesting the fourth presidential poll since East Timor won independence from Indonesia in 2002.

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