The results have been announced in the first round of Indonesia's presidential elections. But the day was marred by a small bomb planted in the headquarters of the country's election commission.As expected, former Indonesian security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will face President Megawati Sukarnoputri in a September runoff.
| He's the former "security minister", remember that. |
The head of Indonesia's election commission announced that the winner of the first round of voting was Mr. Yudhoyono. With 33.6 percent of the vote, he was well in front of the incumbent, President Megawati, who captured 26.6 percent.
The announcement of the results of the first round of voting was delayed for several hours after a small bomb exploded at the election commission offices. No one was injured in the blast, which did minor damage to a ladies toilet in the building in central Jakarta.
| Police reports say it seems to have been a large firecracker. There was a phoned in warning 30 minutes ahead, but it went off before the full bomb squad arrived. No injuries, but they had to evacuate the building. The building where they were counting the votes. After which, the "security forces" bomb squad checked the building and made sure the building and the ballots were "secure" while "security forces" guarded the building. |
No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion, but Vice President Hamzah Haz told reporters that he believed it was planted by people who wanted to sabotage the democratic process. He did not elaborate.
| "I can say no more. Well, I could, but I like breathing." |
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