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Widodo wins Indonesian presidential election with 53pc

There were fears the tension could spark unrest in a country that was hit by repeated outbreaks of violence before Suharto’s downfall in 1998, and more than 250,000 police were deployed across the country on Tuesday.

Security was particularly tight in the capital Jakarta, with hundreds of police in riot gear stationed around the election commission headquarters, and roads around the centre of the capital closed off to traffic.

But police and politicians appealed for supporters not to take to the streets and by early evening there was no sign of major demonstrations.

Despite Prabowo’s repeated accusations the coalition backing him appeared to be falling apart in recent days, with several key members reportedly conceding defeat.

Even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hinted Monday that the ex-general should accept the result if he loses, saying: “Conceding defeat is noble.”

Widodo was the long-time favourite to become president. But a huge poll lead he held for months dwindled to single digits during the most divisive election campaign of Indonesia’s short democratic era, which began with Suharto’s fall in 1998.

However, on election day, pollsters with a track record of accurately predicting Indonesian election outcomes gave Widodo a slim but decisive lead, and only a small number of lesser-known survey institutes called a win for Prabowo.

Widodo, 53, won legions of fans during his time as Jakarta governor with his common touch, regularly making visits to the city’s slums in casual clothes.

In contrast Prabowo, who won support with fiery nationalistic speeches, used to command the army’s feared special forces during the Suharto era and was formerly married to one of the dictator’s daughters.

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