Voting is under way at around 11,274 polling stations across Nicaragua to choose the country's new president.

Some 3.6 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots from 07:00 local time (13:0 GMT) to 18:00 (24:00 GMT) at polling stations in the country's 153 municipalities.

There are 5 candidates competing for the presidency. The latest opinion polls show left-wing Daniel Ortega, who gained 30-34 percent, with a clear lead over his nearest rival Eduardo Montealegre, a wealthy former banker who got 22-25.5 percent of vote. Jose Rizo from the right-wing Constitutionalist Liberal Party is in the third place with 17-20 percent of the vote.

According to Nicaragua's electoral laws, candidates need 40 percent of the vote, or 35 percent and a 5-point lead, to win outright. If this does not happen, a second round is supposed to be held 40 days later.

The elections, which will also choose the vice president and a 90-member single chamber parliament, are being watched by 17,000 local and international observers.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)