Former general Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono topped the first round of Indonesia's first direct presidential election and will face incumbent Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri in a September run-off, the election commission (KPU) said today.
Indonesian Presidential candidates Megawati Sukarnoputri (L) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono topped the first round of Indonesia's first direct presidential election and will face Sukarnoputri in a September run-off
Mr Yudhoyono, who rose from rank outsider to hot favourite after resigning from Ms Megawati's cabinet during a heated row earlier this year, had the highest number of votes but less than the 50 per cent needed to prevent the September 20 run-off, election commission officials said.
Ms Megawati came second in the race among five candidates.