Indonesia's constitutional court Thursday rejected a bid to overturn President Joko Widodo's re-election victory and dismissed his defeated challenger's claims of widespread voter fraud as groundless.

The court threw out the case lodged by ex-general Prabowo Subianto, saying he did not prove he lost the April vote because of widespread cheating and voter fraud -- allegations that sparked deadly rioting in the capital of the world's third-biggest democracy.

"The plaintiff's case is legally groundless," said chief Justice Anwar Usman. "We reject (his) demand in its entirety."

The ruling paves the way for Widodo and vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin to be inaugurated later this year.

"Thank you to the Constutional Court which has settled the election dispute openly and transparently," the 58-year-old Widodo said in a televised address.

"I'm calling on all Indonesians to come together to develop our nation."

In the course of a hearing that stretched over nine hours, the panel painstakingly described many of the allegations -- including vote buying and that biased civil servants favoured Widodo -- as baseless.

The court, which questioned the quality of the evidence and credibility of witnesses, said voter-fraud claims were the responsibility of Indonesia's elections supervisory agency and beyond its jurisdiction.

Subianto claimed the vote was plagued by "systematic, structured and massive" electoral fraud that cost him victory.

His lawyers sought to overturn the official results that declared Widodo the winner with 55.5 per cent of votes, against Subianto's 44.5 per cent.

After the ruling, Subianto said he would consider his options.

"This ruling is very disappointing for us and our supporters but as agreed we will comply with and follow the constitution," he said in a televised address.

"I will consult with my legal team," he added.

- 'Game over' -

But Subianto, who lost a similar court battle in 2014 when Widodo defeated him, has little recourse, according to constitutional law expert Refly Harun.

"If the claim is rejected then it's game over," he said before the ruling.

Subianto supporter Daeng Wahidin was among a few thousand people gathered outside the court for the verdict, but police barricades prevented them getting near the building.

"The state can make its decision, but I won't accept Jokowi as president," the 45-year-old Wahidin told AFP, referring to Widodo by his nickname.

"I think he was elected through a fraudulent system."

Some 47,000 police and army personnel were deployed around the court and other parts of central Jakarta amid fears of more unrest, but there was little sign of violent demonstrations Thursday.

Last month, peaceful protests against the official result by Subianto supporters erupted into two nights of street battles between police and rioters, leaving nine people dead and hundreds injured in the city's worst violence in years.

Indonesian police have been in the spotlight after videos surfaced that appeared to show officers beating protesters.

There are also questions about how the demonstrators -- including a 15-year-old high school student -- died.

This week, Amnesty International called for an independent probe into what it called "grave human rights violations" by police against protesters -- including beatings and "torture" -- and allegations that they were behind the killings of demonstrators.

Some of the dead were reported to have gunshot wounds. Police have insisted they did not shoot live rounds, but instead used rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas to push back the crowds.

Indonesia's constitutional court Thursday rejected a bid to overturn President Joko Widodo's re-election victory and dismissed his defeated challenger's claims of widespread voter fraud as groundless.

Indonesia's constitutional court Thursday rejected a bid to overturn President Joko Widodo's re-election victory and dismissed his defeated challenger's claims of widespread voter fraud as groundless. The court threw out the case lodged by ex-general Prabowo Subianto, saying he did not prove he lost the April vote because of widespread cheating and voter fraud -- allegations that sparked deadly rioting in the capital of the world's third-biggest democracy. "The plaintiff's case is legally groundless," said chief Justice Anwar Usman. "We reject (his) demand in its entirety." The ruling paves the way for Widodo and vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin to be inaugurated later this year. "Thank you to the Constutional Court which has settled the election dispute openly and transparently," the 58-year-old Widodo said in a televised address. "I'm calling on all Indonesians to come together to develop our nation." In the course of a hearing that stretched over nine hours, the panel painstakingly described many of the allegations -- including vote buying and that biased civil servants favoured Widodo -- as baseless. The court, which questioned the quality of the evidence and credibility of witnesses, said voter-fraud claims were the responsibility of Indonesia's elections supervisory agency and beyond its jurisdiction. Subianto claimed the vote was plagued by "systematic, structured and massive" electoral fraud that cost him victory. His lawyers sought to overturn the official results that declared Widodo the winner with 55.5 per cent of votes, against Subianto's 44.5 per cent. After the ruling, Subianto said he would consider his options. "This ruling is very disappointing for us and our supporters but as agreed we will comply with and follow the constitution," he said in a televised address. "I will consult with my legal team," he added. - 'Game over' - But Subianto, who lost a similar court battle in 2014 when Widodo defeated him, has little recourse, according to constitutional law expert Refly Harun. "If the claim is rejected then it's game over," he said before the ruling. Subianto supporter Daeng Wahidin was among a few thousand people gathered outside the court for the verdict, but police barricades prevented them getting near the building. "The state can make its decision, but I won't accept Jokowi as president," the 45-year-old Wahidin told AFP, referring to Widodo by his nickname. "I think he was elected through a fraudulent system." Some 47,000 police and army personnel were deployed around the court and other parts of central Jakarta amid fears of more unrest, but there was little sign of violent demonstrations Thursday. Last month, peaceful protests against the official result by Subianto supporters erupted into two nights of street battles between police and rioters, leaving nine people dead and hundreds injured in the city's worst violence in years. Indonesian police have been in the spotlight after videos surfaced that appeared to show officers beating protesters. There are also questions about how the demonstrators -- including a 15-year-old high school student -- died. This week, Amnesty International called for an independent probe into what it called "grave human rights violations" by police against protesters -- including beatings and "torture" -- and allegations that they were behind the killings of demonstrators. Some of the dead were reported to have gunshot wounds. Police have insisted they did not shoot live rounds, but instead used rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas to push back the crowds.

Indonesia court rejects bid to overturn President Widodo's victory

Lawyers for Indonesia's opposition leader called on Friday for President Joko Widodo's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-indonesias-widodo-seeks-a-second-term-rural-voters-have-some-doubts-210297">election victory</a> to be annulled, telling the Constitutional Court it had been achieved through "systematic electoral fraud and abuse of power".

The demand came as the court began a hearing into complaints from defeated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesia-presidential-election-prabowo-subianto-vs-joko-widodo-209329">presidential election </a>candidate Prabowo Subianto, a retired general with strong support among conservative Muslims, who has refused to concede defeat.

Official results released by the General Election Commission last month showed Widodo had beaten Prabowo by 11 percentage points to win more than 55 per cent of votes in the April 17 poll.

The dispute has brought weeks of uncertainty and deadly protests in the world's third-largest democracy.

"We are filing a lawsuit against the General Election Commission, demanding that it annul its decision on the result of the presidential election," Bambang Widjojanto, the chief lawyer representing Prabowo, told the court.

Prabowo and his campaign team want the Constitutional Court to annul the election, disqualify Widodo and his running mate as candidates or hold another election.

The court is expected to deliver a verdict by June 28.

Widodo has not commented on his rival's accusations of cheating, saying everyone must respect the legal process.

The election agency has said there was no evidence of systematic cheating and independent observers have said the poll was free and fair.

Clashes broke out between Prabowo's supporters and police in the heart of the capital, Jakarta, last month after the official result was announced and eight people were killed and more than 900 injured.

Police have arrested dozens of suspected instigators of the rioting, including a close Prabowo ally accused of orchestrating assassination plots against top government officials.

This week, Prabowo, who has warned of "people power" protests, urged supporters to remain calm through the Constitutional Court proceedings.

About 17,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to prevent a repeat of last month's unrest while the court deliberates.

There was a small, peaceful protest by opposition supporters near the heavily protected court. Some protesters held placards saying "We demand justice!"

Prabowo's legal team pointed to issues with Widodo's campaign financing and use of state apparatus as a campaign tool, saying the election result came about because of "illegal actions, fraud and abuse of power which are structured, systematic and massive".

Prabowo's team also said police and military personnel had been "pressured" to vote for Widodo and the government increased civil servants' salaries as an attempt to buy votes.

Legal representatives for the election agency and Widodo's campaign team were at the hearing.

"There are more theories and assumptions stated in their case than facts ... We can refute all of them," said the chief lawyer representing Widodo, Yusril Mahendra.

The next hearing is on Tuesday.

Lawyers for Indonesia's opposition leader called on Friday for President Joko Widodo's election victory to be annulled, telling the Constitutional Court it had been achieved through "systematic electoral fraud and abuse of power".

Lawyers for Indonesia's opposition leader called on Friday for President Joko Widodo's election victory to be annulled, telling the Constitutional Court it had been achieved through "systematic electoral fraud and abuse of power". The demand came as the court began a hearing into complaints from defeated presidential election candidate Prabowo Subianto, a retired general with strong support among conservative Muslims, who has refused to concede defeat. Official results released by the General Election Commission last month showed Widodo had beaten Prabowo by 11 percentage points to win more than 55 per cent of votes in the April 17 poll. The dispute has brought weeks of uncertainty and deadly protests in the world's third-largest democracy. "We are filing a lawsuit against the General Election Commission, demanding that it annul its decision on the result of the presidential election," Bambang Widjojanto, the chief lawyer representing Prabowo, told the court. Prabowo and his campaign team want the Constitutional Court to annul the election, disqualify Widodo and his running mate as candidates or hold another election. The court is expected to deliver a verdict by June 28. Widodo has not commented on his rival's accusations of cheating, saying everyone must respect the legal process. The election agency has said there was no evidence of systematic cheating and independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Clashes broke out between Prabowo's supporters and police in the heart of the capital, Jakarta, last month after the official result was announced and eight people were killed and more than 900 injured. Police have arrested dozens of suspected instigators of the rioting, including a close Prabowo ally accused of orchestrating assassination plots against top government officials. This week, Prabowo, who has warned of "people power" protests, urged supporters to remain calm through the Constitutional Court proceedings. About 17,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to prevent a repeat of last month's unrest while the court deliberates. There was a small, peaceful protest by opposition supporters near the heavily protected court. Some protesters held placards saying "We demand justice!" Prabowo's legal team pointed to issues with Widodo's campaign financing and use of state apparatus as a campaign tool, saying the election result came about because of "illegal actions, fraud and abuse of power which are structured, systematic and massive". Prabowo's team also said police and military personnel had been "pressured" to vote for Widodo and the government increased civil servants' salaries as an attempt to buy votes. Legal representatives for the election agency and Widodo's campaign team were at the hearing. "There are more theories and assumptions stated in their case than facts ... We can refute all of them," said the chief lawyer representing Widodo, Yusril Mahendra. The next hearing is on Tuesday.

Indonesian opposition demands that court annuls election

Defeated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-presidential-candidate-prabowo-subianto-to-challenge-poll-result-in-constitutional-court-220292">Indonesian&nbsp;presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto </a>is&nbsp;set&nbsp;to lodge a&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;to the&nbsp;result&nbsp;of the April 17&nbsp;election&nbsp;in the Constitutional&nbsp;Court&nbsp;on Friday after complaining that the vote was rigged.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-joko-widodo-wins-second-term-as-president-220251">Joko Widodo</a> won 55.5% of votes in the poll to lead the world's third-biggest democracy, beating retired general Prabowo, who got 44.5%, the General&nbsp;Election&nbsp;Commission (KPU) said on Tuesday.

After the announcement, Prabowo repeated earlier claims that there had been widespread cheating in favour of the incumbent and thousands of his supporters demonstrated in the capital this week to protest against the&nbsp;result.

Eight people were killed, including three teenagers, while 737 were hurt in two nights of rioting, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said.

The&nbsp;election&nbsp;agency has said there was no evidence of systematic cheating and independent observers have said the poll was free and fair.

"The process of submitting the dispute lawsuit and other legal efforts are steps to ensure that we can carry&nbsp;election&nbsp;results that are free and fair," Prabowo's running mate, Sandiaga Uno, told reporters.

He said people had "witnessed with their own eyes" that the polls were unfair.

An exit poll conducted by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia on&nbsp;election&nbsp;day showed that 94% of voters believed the&nbsp;election&nbsp;had been free and fair.

Police have arrested hundreds of people accused of taking part in the riots or provoking violence, two of whom were members of a militant group that had pledged support for Islamic State, national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said.

Police had also found envelopes containing money, suggesting instigators had paid some of the rioters, Iqbal said, adding that tests showed some of the suspects had taken the stimulant methamphetamine.

Dozens of protesters started to gather near the Constitutional&nbsp;Court&nbsp;on Friday afternoon in anticipation of Prabowo's arrival.

Widodo has warned of tough action against those instigating riots, while Prabowo has called for peaceful protests and restraint.

Jusuf Kalla, Widodo's vice president, met Prabowo on Thursday, Prabowo's campaign team said without elaborating.

The&nbsp;court&nbsp;expects to hold a first hearing on the dispute after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which is in the first week of June, and to deliver a verdict on June 28, spokesman Fajar Laksono said.

Prabowo also lost the 2014 presidential&nbsp;election&nbsp;to Widodo by a slimmer margin and had objected to that&nbsp;result, lodging a complaint with the Constitutional&nbsp;Court&nbsp;that was rejected.

The government has deployed 58,000 police and soldiers across Jakarta to maintain security and put temporary blocks on some social media to prevent unrest sparked by fake news.

Defeated Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is set to lodge a challenge to the result of the April 17 election in the Constitutional Court on Friday after complaining that the vote was rigged.

Defeated Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is set to lodge a challenge to the result of the April 17 election in the Constitutional Court on Friday after complaining that the vote was rigged. President Joko Widodo won 55.5% of votes in the poll to lead the world's third-biggest democracy, beating retired general Prabowo, who got 44.5%, the General Election Commission (KPU) said on Tuesday. After the announcement, Prabowo repeated earlier claims that there had been widespread cheating in favour of the incumbent and thousands of his supporters demonstrated in the capital this week to protest against the result. Eight people were killed, including three teenagers, while 737 were hurt in two nights of rioting, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said. The election agency has said there was no evidence of systematic cheating and independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. "The process of submitting the dispute lawsuit and other legal efforts are steps to ensure that we can carry election results that are free and fair," Prabowo's running mate, Sandiaga Uno, told reporters. He said people had "witnessed with their own eyes" that the polls were unfair. An exit poll conducted by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia on election day showed that 94% of voters believed the election had been free and fair. Police have arrested hundreds of people accused of taking part in the riots or provoking violence, two of whom were members of a militant group that had pledged support for Islamic State, national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said. Police had also found envelopes containing money, suggesting instigators had paid some of the rioters, Iqbal said, adding that tests showed some of the suspects had taken the stimulant methamphetamine. Dozens of protesters started to gather near the Constitutional Court on Friday afternoon in anticipation of Prabowo's arrival. Widodo has warned of tough action against those instigating riots, while Prabowo has called for peaceful protests and restraint. Jusuf Kalla, Widodo's vice president, met Prabowo on Thursday, Prabowo's campaign team said without elaborating. The court expects to hold a first hearing on the dispute after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which is in the first week of June, and to deliver a verdict on June 28, spokesman Fajar Laksono said. Prabowo also lost the 2014 presidential election to Widodo by a slimmer margin and had objected to that result, lodging a complaint with the Constitutional Court that was rejected. The government has deployed 58,000 police and soldiers across Jakarta to maintain security and put temporary blocks on some social media to prevent unrest sparked by fake news.

Indonesian opposition set to challenge election result in court

Tens of thousands of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-police-arrest-at-least-20-amid-post-election-violence-220535">Indonesian military and police </a>were deployed on the streets of Jakarta Thursday, as a deadline approached for a presidential challenger to file an appeal over claims of widespread cheating in last month's election.

At least seven people were killed -- including a 17-year old high school student -- after two nights of rioting in the capital as police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-joko-widodo-wins-second-term-as-president-220251/amp">President Joko Widodo.</a>

The violence has been fanned by claims from Widodo's rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, that the April 17 poll was a fraud.

Indonesia's election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten Subianto, who has until Friday to challenge the results at the Constitutional Court.

The 67-year-old has appealed for calm and said he would pursue legal channels, as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in the 2014 election.

Election officials and analysts have discounted Subianto's claims of rampant cheating in the world's third-biggest democracy, after India and the United States.

Nearly 60,000 security personnel were deployed Thursday, nearly double the previous number, after Widodo vowed that he "won't tolerate" more riots.

The government has also partly blocked access to social media -- including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram -- in a bid to clamp down on fake news and hoaxes linked to the violence.

That moves come after fresh skirmishes erupted late Wednesday outside the election supervisory agency's office in the heart of the city, with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags.

Some hurled stones, fireworks and molotov cocktails at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building, where a police post was torched.

Police pushed back the main group of rioters after firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators.

Indonesia's capital been gripped by bigger demonstrations in the past, but the level of violence in this week's clashes has not been seen in years.

Authorities said the violence was orchestrated by people who came to Jakarta to stir up trouble.

But they've given few details about the circumstances of how the seven died or who was responsible, earlier saying that they had gunshot or blunt force wounds. Authorities denied firing live rounds into the crowd.&nbsp;

Nine officers had been injured, police said, but they did not give details of wounded protesters thought to number in the hundreds.

On Thursday, National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said two of about 300 arrested suspects were linked to a hard line organisation that had once pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Local media this year speculated about a connection between the founder of that local organisation and Subianto, after he lent his car to the politician's campaign team.

Elsewhere, smaller poll protests were held in Sumatra's Medan city this week and in Pontianak on Borneo island, where over 500 demonstrators armed with stones and firecrackers blocked roads, damaged vehicles and set two police posts alight, local police said.

Tens of thousands of Indonesian military and police were deployed on the streets of Jakarta Thursday, as a deadline approached for a presidential challenger to file an appeal over claims of widespread cheating in last month's election.

Tens of thousands of Indonesian military and police were deployed on the streets of Jakarta Thursday, as a deadline approached for a presidential challenger to file an appeal over claims of widespread cheating in last month's election. At least seven people were killed -- including a 17-year old high school student -- after two nights of rioting in the capital as police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. The violence has been fanned by claims from Widodo's rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, that the April 17 poll was a fraud. Indonesia's election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten Subianto, who has until Friday to challenge the results at the Constitutional Court. The 67-year-old has appealed for calm and said he would pursue legal channels, as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in the 2014 election. Election officials and analysts have discounted Subianto's claims of rampant cheating in the world's third-biggest democracy, after India and the United States. Nearly 60,000 security personnel were deployed Thursday, nearly double the previous number, after Widodo vowed that he "won't tolerate" more riots. The government has also partly blocked access to social media -- including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram -- in a bid to clamp down on fake news and hoaxes linked to the violence. That moves come after fresh skirmishes erupted late Wednesday outside the election supervisory agency's office in the heart of the city, with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags. Some hurled stones, fireworks and molotov cocktails at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building, where a police post was torched. Police pushed back the main group of rioters after firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators. Indonesia's capital been gripped by bigger demonstrations in the past, but the level of violence in this week's clashes has not been seen in years. Authorities said the violence was orchestrated by people who came to Jakarta to stir up trouble. But they've given few details about the circumstances of how the seven died or who was responsible, earlier saying that they had gunshot or blunt force wounds. Authorities denied firing live rounds into the crowd. Nine officers had been injured, police said, but they did not give details of wounded protesters thought to number in the hundreds. On Thursday, National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said two of about 300 arrested suspects were linked to a hard line organisation that had once pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Local media this year speculated about a connection between the founder of that local organisation and Subianto, after he lent his car to the politician's campaign team. Elsewhere, smaller poll protests were held in Sumatra's Medan city this week and in Pontianak on Borneo island, where over 500 demonstrators armed with stones and firecrackers blocked roads, damaged vehicles and set two police posts alight, local police said.

Indonesian troops flood Jakarta streets after post-election riots

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is to challenge the official election result in the Constitutional Court, campaign team official Sufmi Dasco said on Tuesday.

The retired general lost last month's presidential election to incumbent President Joko Widodo.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-joko-widodo-wins-second-term-as-president-220251">Joko Widodo won another term as president</a> of the world's third-biggest democracy, official results showed Tuesday.

Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5 per cent to 44.5 per cent margin over Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, the commission said.

Some 85.6 million Indonesians cast their ballot in favour of Widodo out of about 154 million voters, it added.

Subianto lost 2014 presidential bid to Widodo, which he unsuccessfully challenged in court.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is to challenge the official election result in the Constitutional Court, campaign team official Sufmi Dasco said on Tuesday.

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is to challenge the official election result in the Constitutional Court, campaign team official Sufmi Dasco said on Tuesday. The retired general lost last month's presidential election to incumbent President Joko Widodo. Joko Widodo won another term as president of the world's third-biggest democracy, official results showed Tuesday. Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5 per cent to 44.5 per cent margin over Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, the commission said. Some 85.6 million Indonesians cast their ballot in favour of Widodo out of about 154 million voters, it added. Subianto lost 2014 presidential bid to Widodo, which he unsuccessfully challenged in court. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto to challenge poll result in Constitutional Court

Police rolled out more barbed wire on Monday to tighten security outside Indonesia's election agency and readied armoured trucks and water cannons to quell any civil unrest when official results of a presidential poll are released this week.

With the General Election Commission (KPU) set to declare its count from last month's election by Wednesday, authorities have detained dozens of militant Islamists suspected of planning attacks to create mayhem during demonstrations.

The result is expected to confirm unofficial counts by private pollsters that put incumbent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-president-joko-widodo-says-may-reshuffle-cabinet-before-second-term-214310">President Joko Widodo</a> about 10 percentage points ahead of challenger Prabowo Subianto.

Although independent observers and analysts have said the poll was free and fair, Prabowo has refused to concede defeat, with his campaign team making accusations of "massive cheating and irregularities" during the vote and vote-counting.

The retired general has said the situation could trigger "people power"-style protests, while the government and police have urged protesters to keep the peace and vowed action against anyone stirring unrest.

Indonesia's election supervisory panel has dismissed two official complaints of election cheating, on grounds of insufficient evidence of violations.

Heavily armed security stood guard outside the election commission in central Jakarta, some accompanied by police dogs.

Last week, chief security minister Wiranto ordered police and military across Indonesia to prevent people from travelling to Jakarta en masse to join protests.

In East Java province, more than 1,200 Prabowo supporters were stopped from travelling to the capital.

"These people were attempting to travel by bus, car and train to join the rallies on May 22," said East Java police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera. "We prevented them."

Indonesia's biggest Islamic group, Nahdlatul Ulama, has also urged people to avoid rallies, saying its mosques would not accommodate protesters from outside the capital, except for prayers, media said.

The national police, who report directly to Widodo, has also held or interrogated at least three leading opposition figures for suspected treason.

Last week, police said they had detained about 30 suspected militants with ties to Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), Indonesia's largest group linked to Islamic State, including some capable of using Wi-Fi networks to trigger blasts.

In a security alert, the US embassy in Jakarta advised citizens to avoid the sites of large demonstrations. The Australian embassy also warned that protests could unexpectedly turn violent.

Widodo now leads with 55% of the vote, while Prabowo has 45%, according to the panel's official count of nearly 90% of votes.

Once the official result is released, the losing party can lodge a legal challenge at the constitutional court. Otherwise, the commission will officially declare the winner by May 28.

Prabowo has not yet confirmed if he intends to go to court, but his challenge to his 2014 defeat by Widodo was rejected.

Police rolled out more barbed wire on Monday to tighten security outside Indonesia's election agency and readied armoured trucks and water cannons to quell any civil unrest when official results of a presidential poll are released this week.

Police rolled out more barbed wire on Monday to tighten security outside Indonesia's election agency and readied armoured trucks and water cannons to quell any civil unrest when official results of a presidential poll are released this week. With the General Election Commission (KPU) set to declare its count from last month's election by Wednesday, authorities have detained dozens of militant Islamists suspected of planning attacks to create mayhem during demonstrations. The result is expected to confirm unofficial counts by private pollsters that put incumbent President Joko Widodo about 10 percentage points ahead of challenger Prabowo Subianto. Although independent observers and analysts have said the poll was free and fair, Prabowo has refused to concede defeat, with his campaign team making accusations of "massive cheating and irregularities" during the vote and vote-counting. The retired general has said the situation could trigger "people power"-style protests, while the government and police have urged protesters to keep the peace and vowed action against anyone stirring unrest. Indonesia's election supervisory panel has dismissed two official complaints of election cheating, on grounds of insufficient evidence of violations. Heavily armed security stood guard outside the election commission in central Jakarta, some accompanied by police dogs. Last week, chief security minister Wiranto ordered police and military across Indonesia to prevent people from travelling to Jakarta en masse to join protests. In East Java province, more than 1,200 Prabowo supporters were stopped from travelling to the capital. "These people were attempting to travel by bus, car and train to join the rallies on May 22," said East Java police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera. "We prevented them." Indonesia's biggest Islamic group, Nahdlatul Ulama, has also urged people to avoid rallies, saying its mosques would not accommodate protesters from outside the capital, except for prayers, media said. The national police, who report directly to Widodo, has also held or interrogated at least three leading opposition figures for suspected treason. Last week, police said they had detained about 30 suspected militants with ties to Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), Indonesia's largest group linked to Islamic State, including some capable of using Wi-Fi networks to trigger blasts. In a security alert, the US embassy in Jakarta advised citizens to avoid the sites of large demonstrations. The Australian embassy also warned that protests could unexpectedly turn violent. Widodo now leads with 55% of the vote, while Prabowo has 45%, according to the panel's official count of nearly 90% of votes. Once the official result is released, the losing party can lodge a legal challenge at the constitutional court. Otherwise, the commission will officially declare the winner by May 28. Prabowo has not yet confirmed if he intends to go to court, but his challenge to his 2014 defeat by Widodo was rejected.

Indonesia steps up security ahead of presidential election result

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia led by a comfortable margin in unofficial returns in his re-election bid on Wednesday, as he appeared to fend off a challenge by a four-time presidential candidate.

Joko Widodo looks set for comfortable victory in Indonesia presidential elections

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-close-in-indonesias-giant-one-day-election-211089">track to be re-elected leader </a>of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago.

While official results are not due until next month, a series of so-called "quick counts" by pollsters showed Widodo holding a strong lead with around 55 per cent of the vote to Subianto's 44 per cent.&nbsp;

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Wx1TdnX4IQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The vote officially ended at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in Sumatra, although some of the 800,000 polling stations across the volcano-dotted nation remained open late due to delays and long queues.

From the jungles of Borneo to the slums of Jakarta, Wednesday saw millions of Indonesians cast their ballots in one of the world's biggest exercises in democracy.

Horses, elephants, motorbikes, boats and planes were pressed into service to get ballot boxes out across the vast country that is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages.&nbsp;

More than 190 million voters were asked to choose between the incumbent Widodo, lauded for his infrastructure driven economic push, and his fiery nationalist rival, who has strong ties to the country's three-decade Suharto dictatorship.

The call to prayer had rang out as voting began at first light in restive Papua province in the east.

Almost 90 per cent of the population of the 4,800 kilometre-long (3,000 mile) country are Muslim.

The campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much directed at the presidential contenders.

Leading in pre-vote polls, President Joko Widodo, 57, pointed to his ambitious drive to build much-needed roads, airports and other infrastructure across Southeast Asia's largest economy.

But Widodo, a political outsider with an everyman personality when he swept to victory in 2014, has seen his rights record criticised owing to an uptick in discriminatory attacks on religious and other minorities, including a small LGBT community, as Islamic hardliners become more vocal in public life.

His choice of conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate also raised fears about the future of Indonesia's reputation for moderate Islam.

Echoing US President Donald Trump, Subianto vowed to put "Indonesia first" by reviewing billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

His long-held presidential ambitions, however, have been dogged by a chequered past and strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship, which collapsed two decades ago and opened the door for what is now the world's third-biggest democracy.

He ordered the abduction of democracy activists as the authoritarian regime collapsed in 1998, and was accused of committing atrocities in East Timor.

Subianto -- who has moved to soften his image with an Instagram account featuring his cat Bobby -- has warned he would challenge the results if he lost this year.

He narrowly lost to Widodo in the 2014 polls.

A record 245,000 candidates ran for public office, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day.

In Palu, which was devastated by a quake-tsunami six months ago, one woman who lost her 10-year-old daughter and her home in the disaster voiced hope that the poll could help bring some relief.

"Hopefully the president or the new legislative candidate will help people like us still living in evacuation shelters," said Laila, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

"All this time we've been living on handouts from volunteers."

Thousands of survivors are still living in makeshift tents in the affected region of the island of Sulawesi.

In mountain-ringed Bandung city, flooding didn't stop people from wading through knee-deep water to cast a ballot, or turning up at polling stations on inflated tyre inner tubes.

About two million military and civil protection force members were deployed to ensure the vote went smoothly, including in mountainous Papua where rebels have been fighting for decades to split from Indonesia.

Papua election officials dressed in traditional headgear and grass skirts, as others strapped on superhero costumes to entertain voters in other parts of the country of 260 million.&nbsp;

"This only happens once in five years, so we have to exercise our (voting) rights," I Gusti Ketut Sudarsa, 65, said from holiday hotspot Bali.

"This will determine the path of our nation."

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago.

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago. While official results are not due until next month, a series of so-called "quick counts" by pollsters showed Widodo holding a strong lead with around 55 per cent of the vote to Subianto's 44 per cent. The vote officially ended at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in Sumatra, although some of the 800,000 polling stations across the volcano-dotted nation remained open late due to delays and long queues. From the jungles of Borneo to the slums of Jakarta, Wednesday saw millions of Indonesians cast their ballots in one of the world's biggest exercises in democracy. Horses, elephants, motorbikes, boats and planes were pressed into service to get ballot boxes out across the vast country that is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages. More than 190 million voters were asked to choose between the incumbent Widodo, lauded for his infrastructure driven economic push, and his fiery nationalist rival, who has strong ties to the country's three-decade Suharto dictatorship. The call to prayer had rang out as voting began at first light in restive Papua province in the east. Almost 90 per cent of the population of the 4,800 kilometre-long (3,000 mile) country are Muslim. The campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much directed at the presidential contenders. Leading in pre-vote polls, President Joko Widodo, 57, pointed to his ambitious drive to build much-needed roads, airports and other infrastructure across Southeast Asia's largest economy. But Widodo, a political outsider with an everyman personality when he swept to victory in 2014, has seen his rights record criticised owing to an uptick in discriminatory attacks on religious and other minorities, including a small LGBT community, as Islamic hardliners become more vocal in public life. His choice of conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate also raised fears about the future of Indonesia's reputation for moderate Islam. Echoing US President Donald Trump, Subianto vowed to put "Indonesia first" by reviewing billions of dollars in Chinese investment. His long-held presidential ambitions, however, have been dogged by a chequered past and strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship, which collapsed two decades ago and opened the door for what is now the world's third-biggest democracy. He ordered the abduction of democracy activists as the authoritarian regime collapsed in 1998, and was accused of committing atrocities in East Timor. Subianto -- who has moved to soften his image with an Instagram account featuring his cat Bobby -- has warned he would challenge the results if he lost this year. He narrowly lost to Widodo in the 2014 polls. A record 245,000 candidates ran for public office, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day. In Palu, which was devastated by a quake-tsunami six months ago, one woman who lost her 10-year-old daughter and her home in the disaster voiced hope that the poll could help bring some relief. "Hopefully the president or the new legislative candidate will help people like us still living in evacuation shelters," said Laila, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "All this time we've been living on handouts from volunteers." Thousands of survivors are still living in makeshift tents in the affected region of the island of Sulawesi. In mountain-ringed Bandung city, flooding didn't stop people from wading through knee-deep water to cast a ballot, or turning up at polling stations on inflated tyre inner tubes. About two million military and civil protection force members were deployed to ensure the vote went smoothly, including in mountainous Papua where rebels have been fighting for decades to split from Indonesia. Papua election officials dressed in traditional headgear and grass skirts, as others strapped on superhero costumes to entertain voters in other parts of the country of 260 million. "This only happens once in five years, so we have to exercise our (voting) rights," I Gusti Ketut Sudarsa, 65, said from holiday hotspot Bali. "This will determine the path of our nation."

Joko Widodo leading in early count in Indonesia: Pollsters

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesians-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-210259&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwid1pn7ndThAhXCknAKHSZtB7IQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LqS-cysSwraSn3-gqgzAH">vote</a> in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/192-million-voters-245-000-candidates-indonesia-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-on-april-17-210463">Joko Widodo</a>, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

As conservative Islam gains traction, politicians including Widodo have taken pains to appear more Islamic. The worry for investors is that the appeal for conservative votes will translate into populist policy.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. Some recent surveys have shown Prabowo catching up.

The opposition has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

The election is a huge logistical operation in the world's third-largest democracy with 245,000 candidates vying for votes in what is described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Nearly 350,000 police and military personnel, in addition to 1.6 million paramilitary officers, will fan out across the archipelago of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote.

Polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) in the west.

Unofficial "quick counts" will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

The 'new face' in politics, Widodo seeks a second term

When Widodo was elected five years ago he offered a break from the military and political elite that had clung to power since the fall of strongman ruler Suharto in 1998.

Now, Widodo, 57, is running on his own record for a second term.

With his easy smile and signature "blusukan", or impromptu walkabouts, he came to power on a wave of support for a clean, can-do image he cultivated as a small-city mayor, and then as governor of the capital, Jakarta.

Still, during his political rise, Widodo, a moderate Muslim from the city of Solo in Java island, has had to fend off smear campaigns suggesting he was anti-Islam, a communist or in debt to China. On Sunday, he made a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site, Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

As president, Widodo was saddled with expectations he could fix a host of problems, from human rights abuses to pervasive graft. Jokowi, as he is popularly known, also inherited an economy coming off a commodities boom, and faced an obstructive parliament.

He stitched together a majority in parliament and while unable to hit an economic growth target of 7 per cent, led a push to build ports, roads and airports.

The challenger, former special forces commander

Challenger Prabowo Subianto, 67, has long harboured ambitions for the top job and has cultivated a strongman image and ties with hardline Islamist groups in the hope of boosting his chances.

In the last election, in 2014, Prabowo, the head of the Great Indonesia Movement party, came within 6 percentage points of beating Widodo.

A former special forces commander, Prabowo comes from an elite political family. His father was one of Indonesia's most prominent economists, serving in the cabinets of both presidents Sukarno and Suharto. The latter was his father-in-law.

Prabowo has fired up his rallies with warnings the country is at the mercy of unspecified foreign powers and on the verge of fragmentation.

Clawing back voter support in Muslim heartland

Since taking office, Widodo has made efforts to bring religious parties into his coalition and to secure the backing of the conservative voters he failed to win over in 2014.

His decision to pick Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate was part of a strategy to enhance his ticket's appeal among conservatives but it disappointed some of his moderate and progressive supporters, who say the president is pandering to conservatives and fear the erosion of Indonesia's reputation for religious tolerance and pluralism.

Widodo's aides say the mobilisation of grassroots support and canvassing of thousands of Islamic schools in conservative provinces is crucial to prevent a repeat of 2014 when the opposition attacks cost him votes.

Disgruntled rural voters weigh options

Economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for its nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force.

Widodo has sought to tame inflation with a cap on prices of staples such as rice and shallots and to import more food. He remains popular in many rural areas though some farmers are considering the opposition even though Widodo has led an infrastructure drive that has improved access to markets.

Prabowo has said some of Widodo's infrastructure projects have failed to help ordinary people.

The front line of the social media election battle

This election has been fought out over social media as never before. So-called buzzer teams have proliferated, named for the buzz they aim to create, to spread propaganda on behalf of both Widodo and Prabowo, sometimes with fake accounts.

Under Indonesia's broad internet defamation law, creating and spreading fake news is illegal, but holding social media accounts in false names is not unless a real person is being impersonated. Both campaign teams deny using buzzers or spreading fake news.

Misinformation is rampant on Facebook, which counts Indonesia as its third-largest market globally with an estimated 130 million accounts, as well as on its Instagram and WhatsApp affiliates and rival service Twitter.

The companies say they are working with the government and fighting false content.

Pushing the envelope in Indonesia's money politics

Indonesia has some of the worst money politics in Southeast Asia, according to researchers. Handouts of cash and gifts, anti-graft advocates and politicians say, lead to rampant corruption as successful candidates recoup election expenses, and more, once elected.

Envelopes, usually stuffed with cash ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rupiah ($1.42 to $7.08), are commonly doled out to voters. Though small amounts, the overall cost can be huge over a six-month campaign.

The going rate for a serious run for one of 560 seats in the national legislature is about 10 billion rupiahs, or $708,000, according to the former deputy chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Those aged between 17-35 account for over one-third of Indonesia's 193 million voters. Both Widodo and Prabowo ramped up efforts to appeal to them, deploying everything from holograms, campaign messaging in comic strips, and breakdancing.

Palm oil central to energy self-sufficiency pledges

Both candidates have pledged to achieve energy self-sufficiency by boosting the use of bioenergy, particularly from palm oil. Indonesia opposes a European Union plan to curb the use of palm oil over deforestation concerns.

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. As conservative Islam gains traction, politicians including Widodo have taken pains to appear more Islamic. The worry for investors is that the appeal for conservative votes will translate into populist policy. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. Some recent surveys have shown Prabowo catching up. The opposition has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. The election is a huge logistical operation in the world's third-largest democracy with 245,000 candidates vying for votes in what is described as the world's biggest single-day election. Nearly 350,000 police and military personnel, in addition to 1.6 million paramilitary officers, will fan out across the archipelago of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote. Polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) in the west. Unofficial "quick counts" will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. The 'new face' in politics, Widodo seeks a second term When Widodo was elected five years ago he offered a break from the military and political elite that had clung to power since the fall of strongman ruler Suharto in 1998. Now, Widodo, 57, is running on his own record for a second term. With his easy smile and signature "blusukan", or impromptu walkabouts, he came to power on a wave of support for a clean, can-do image he cultivated as a small-city mayor, and then as governor of the capital, Jakarta. Still, during his political rise, Widodo, a moderate Muslim from the city of Solo in Java island, has had to fend off smear campaigns suggesting he was anti-Islam, a communist or in debt to China. On Sunday, he made a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site, Mecca in Saudi Arabia. As president, Widodo was saddled with expectations he could fix a host of problems, from human rights abuses to pervasive graft. Jokowi, as he is popularly known, also inherited an economy coming off a commodities boom, and faced an obstructive parliament. He stitched together a majority in parliament and while unable to hit an economic growth target of 7 per cent, led a push to build ports, roads and airports. The challenger, former special forces commander Challenger Prabowo Subianto, 67, has long harboured ambitions for the top job and has cultivated a strongman image and ties with hardline Islamist groups in the hope of boosting his chances. In the last election, in 2014, Prabowo, the head of the Great Indonesia Movement party, came within 6 percentage points of beating Widodo. A former special forces commander, Prabowo comes from an elite political family. His father was one of Indonesia's most prominent economists, serving in the cabinets of both presidents Sukarno and Suharto. The latter was his father-in-law. Prabowo has fired up his rallies with warnings the country is at the mercy of unspecified foreign powers and on the verge of fragmentation. Clawing back voter support in Muslim heartland Since taking office, Widodo has made efforts to bring religious parties into his coalition and to secure the backing of the conservative voters he failed to win over in 2014. His decision to pick Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate was part of a strategy to enhance his ticket's appeal among conservatives but it disappointed some of his moderate and progressive supporters, who say the president is pandering to conservatives and fear the erosion of Indonesia's reputation for religious tolerance and pluralism. Widodo's aides say the mobilisation of grassroots support and canvassing of thousands of Islamic schools in conservative provinces is crucial to prevent a repeat of 2014 when the opposition attacks cost him votes. Disgruntled rural voters weigh options Economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for its nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force. Widodo has sought to tame inflation with a cap on prices of staples such as rice and shallots and to import more food. He remains popular in many rural areas though some farmers are considering the opposition even though Widodo has led an infrastructure drive that has improved access to markets. Prabowo has said some of Widodo's infrastructure projects have failed to help ordinary people. The front line of the social media election battle This election has been fought out over social media as never before. So-called buzzer teams have proliferated, named for the buzz they aim to create, to spread propaganda on behalf of both Widodo and Prabowo, sometimes with fake accounts. Under Indonesia's broad internet defamation law, creating and spreading fake news is illegal, but holding social media accounts in false names is not unless a real person is being impersonated. Both campaign teams deny using buzzers or spreading fake news. Misinformation is rampant on Facebook, which counts Indonesia as its third-largest market globally with an estimated 130 million accounts, as well as on its Instagram and WhatsApp affiliates and rival service Twitter. The companies say they are working with the government and fighting false content. Pushing the envelope in Indonesia's money politics Indonesia has some of the worst money politics in Southeast Asia, according to researchers. Handouts of cash and gifts, anti-graft advocates and politicians say, lead to rampant corruption as successful candidates recoup election expenses, and more, once elected. Envelopes, usually stuffed with cash ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rupiah ($1.42 to $7.08), are commonly doled out to voters. Though small amounts, the overall cost can be huge over a six-month campaign. The going rate for a serious run for one of 560 seats in the national legislature is about 10 billion rupiahs, or $708,000, according to the former deputy chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission. Those aged between 17-35 account for over one-third of Indonesia's 193 million voters. Both Widodo and Prabowo ramped up efforts to appeal to them, deploying everything from holograms, campaign messaging in comic strips, and breakdancing. Palm oil central to energy self-sufficiency pledges Both candidates have pledged to achieve energy self-sufficiency by boosting the use of bioenergy, particularly from palm oil. Indonesia opposes a European Union plan to curb the use of palm oil over deforestation concerns.

Indonesia's election: The people, issues and preparations

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesians-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-210259&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjExKrzotHhAhULMo8KHa_HDHYQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw36Vtlpp0m2PRPV_wBB8dM6">elections</a> this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesia-presidential-election-prabowo-subianto-vs-joko-widodo-209329&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjExKrzotHhAhULMo8KHa_HDHYQFggHMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mpgOl_VBgeV8CYn51Uflk">Joko Widodo</a>, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote.

"In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," Kevin O'Rourke, a political analyst and author of Reformasi Weekly, said in the Indonesia-focused newsletter last week.

While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said.

"Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets.

Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy.

That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse.

Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite.

QUICK COUNTS

Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics.

Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia.

Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects.

Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia.

On Wednesday (April 17), polling stations will open at 7 am&nbsp;(2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country.

Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates.

Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.&nbsp;

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote. "In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," Kevin O'Rourke, a political analyst and author of Reformasi Weekly, said in the Indonesia-focused newsletter last week. While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets. Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy. That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse. Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite. QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics. Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects. Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said. More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election. Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia. On Wednesday (April 17), polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country. Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates. Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

192 million voters, 245, 000 candidates: Indonesia to vote in world's biggest single-day election on April 17

Concerts and mass prayers bring lengthy election campaign to close in Indonesia

Tens of millions of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-campaign-rallies-draw-tens-of-thousands-210159&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwij5Imgk8_hAhVh4HMBHUKUB10QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uQ_y0n5O9Yqt1Hivhc4jE">Indonesians</a> will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings.

It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote.&nbsp;

"In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," said Kevin O'Rourke in the Reformasi Weekly note on Indonesia published last week.

While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets.

Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy.

That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse.

Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite.

QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics.

Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia.

Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects.

Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote.

In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia.

On Wednesday, polling stations will open at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country.

Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates.

Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote. "In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," said Kevin O'Rourke in the Reformasi Weekly note on Indonesia published last week. While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets. Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy. That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse. Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite. QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics. Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects. Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said. More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election. Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia. On Wednesday, polling stations will open at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country. Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates. Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

Indonesians to vote in world's biggest single-day election

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy.

Widodo is leading presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, a former general, by double-digits in most opinion polls going into Wednesday's poll.&nbsp;

The two men held their final televised debate Saturday evening.

Earlier, the capital's already congested streets were jammed with colourful parades and peaceful demonstrations, bringing traffic to a standstill.

At the main stadium, Widodo supporters waved Indonesia's red-and-white flag as they sang and danced to performances by dozens of musicians.

The crowd cheered as the 57-year-old incumbent, popularly known as Jokowi, pledged his commitment to pluralism in the Muslim-majority country of more than 260 million.

"Our country is a big nation of different ethnicities, religions, traditions and cultures," he said.

Subianto held his last rally on Friday, which attracted tens of thousands.

His vice-presidential running-mate Sandiaga Uno, a wealthy financier reported to have spent $100 million on his campaign, held a big rally Saturday in Tangerang near Jakarta.

"God willing, with Prabowo and Sandi we will create a fair and prosperous Indonesia," Uno told the crowd.

Subianto's team has warned it would challenge the results over voter-list irregularities if he lost -- setting up a repeat of the pair's 2014 contest, which Widodo won despite an unsuccessful court challenge to his narrow victory.

Widodo campaigned on his infrastructure-driven bid to rev up Southeast Asia's largest economy, while Subianto pledged more defence spending and a review of foreign investment in the sprawling archipelago.

Food vendor Ali Suhardi, 55, said he would vote for the heavy metal music-loving Widodo, but across the city, Romlah was itching for a new leader.

"I want change that will make this country better," said the Subianto supporter, who goes by one name.

More than 190 million Indonesians will choose their next president, parliamentarians and thousands of local officials on April 17.

There are a record 245,000 candidates competing with some 800,000 polling stations across the country.

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy.

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy. Widodo is leading presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, a former general, by double-digits in most opinion polls going into Wednesday's poll. The two men held their final televised debate Saturday evening. Earlier, the capital's already congested streets were jammed with colourful parades and peaceful demonstrations, bringing traffic to a standstill. At the main stadium, Widodo supporters waved Indonesia's red-and-white flag as they sang and danced to performances by dozens of musicians. The crowd cheered as the 57-year-old incumbent, popularly known as Jokowi, pledged his commitment to pluralism in the Muslim-majority country of more than 260 million. "Our country is a big nation of different ethnicities, religions, traditions and cultures," he said. Subianto held his last rally on Friday, which attracted tens of thousands. His vice-presidential running-mate Sandiaga Uno, a wealthy financier reported to have spent $100 million on his campaign, held a big rally Saturday in Tangerang near Jakarta. "God willing, with Prabowo and Sandi we will create a fair and prosperous Indonesia," Uno told the crowd. Subianto's team has warned it would challenge the results over voter-list irregularities if he lost -- setting up a repeat of the pair's 2014 contest, which Widodo won despite an unsuccessful court challenge to his narrow victory. Widodo campaigned on his infrastructure-driven bid to rev up Southeast Asia's largest economy, while Subianto pledged more defence spending and a review of foreign investment in the sprawling archipelago. Food vendor Ali Suhardi, 55, said he would vote for the heavy metal music-loving Widodo, but across the city, Romlah was itching for a new leader. "I want change that will make this country better," said the Subianto supporter, who goes by one name. More than 190 million Indonesians will choose their next president, parliamentarians and thousands of local officials on April 17. There are a record 245,000 candidates competing with some 800,000 polling stations across the country.

Indonesia campaign rallies draw tens of thousands

As World's third largest democracy Indonesia is all set to go to the polls on 17th April, Presidential candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto are ready to encounter each other yet again to win the tough battle of 2019 election.

Indonesia presidential election: Prabowo Subianto vs Joko Widodo