off poll and become leader through the ballot box. He won the first round of the presidential election in March with 43 percent of the vote but fell short of the outright majority needed to avoid a second round. However he has snared the support of several of the losing candidates. Bozize is running against Martin Ziguele, who was prime minister under Patasse and returned from exile to contest the election. Ziguele won 23.5 percent first time round. Former military ruler Andre Kolingba, who also came back from exile to stand and came third, declined to endorse either candidate. He told his supporters the fate of the country was in their hands and they should make their own choice. Central Africans in the capital, where bars and liquor stores were shut for the day, said they were happy to be able to exercise their democratic right and vote for a new president. "We are going to end this transition by voting massively for the two candidates, and one will be president," said one woman, who declined to give her name. On the eve of the poll, both candidates told their party faithful they were sure to win while the Interior Minister warned any attempts to rig the vote would be foiled. --More 1448 Local Time 1148 GMT
