Honduras elects president amid fraud allegations

Hondurans headed to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president in an extremely tense atmosphere marked by accusations of electoral fraud and a deeply polarised society.

Polls show a tight contest between three candidates: Rixi Moncada of the ruling LIBRE party, former Tegucigalpa mayor Nasry Asfour of the National Party and television presenter Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party.

Both the Organisation of American States and the United States have expressed concern about possible interference in the elections. Washington has warned that any undermining of the democratic process will have consequences.

The situation has also been exacerbated by leaked footage of alleged rigging plans, which the opposition calls fake and artificially created.

The elections are also accompanied by logistical problems and declining public confidence in state institutions. A trio of candidates are vying for the votes of 6.5 million voters with few concrete solutions to the country's most serious problems - bribery, drug trafficking and poverty.

Yet the outcome may also affect foreign policy: two candidates are considering re-establishing relations with Taiwan, which would represent a major diplomatic shake-up for China.

(reuters, hal)