Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Rwandans Overseas Begin Voting in Presidential Election

by Associated Press

   KIGALI --

   Rwandans living outside the country have started voting a day before
   the presidential election that longtime leader Paul Kagame is widely
   expected to win.

   The electoral commission for the East African nation says more than
   44,000 people in the diaspora are expected to vote at nearly 100
   polling stations. Political analysts say that's a small part of the
   millions of Rwandans living overseas.
   Rwanda's 6.9 million registered voters can vote on Friday.
   Kagame won the 2010 election with 93 percent of the vote.
   His challengers this time include little-known Frank Habineza of the
   Democratic Green Party -- the only permitted opposition party -- and
   independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.