Voters in Jakarta are choosing a governor in a run-off election, that has been called "the dirtiest and most divisive" in Indonesia. Polls suggest it is a close race between incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, and Anies Rasyid Baswedan, a Muslim. Purnama, also popularly known as "Ahok", voted with his family at a polling station in north Jakarta early on Wednesday morning. A coalition of hardline Islamic groups supporting Mr Basedan said it was deploying at least 100 monitors at each polling station across the capital. Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front which has been leading protests against Mr Purnama, has also cast his vote.

Source: The Star April 19, 2017 03:45 UTC