1.
GV QUEUE OF VOTERS
0.04

2.
SV VOTERS
0.07

3.
SV PAN VOTER TO
0.15

4.
CU PAN ROUND BLACKBOARD SHOWING VOTING SYMBOLS
.0.33

5.
SV PAN INSIDE VOTING BOOTH
0.29

6.
CU VOTING SYMBOLS
0.32

7.
SV VOTER PUTTING BALLOT PAPER INTO BALLOT BOX
0.38

8.
SV DITTO
0.42

9.
GV WOMEN VOTERS
0.47

10.
CU WOMAN AND CHILD
0.49

11.
CU WOMEN (2 SHOTS)
0.55

12.
CU WOMAN VOTING
1.2

13.
SV VOTERS OUTSIDE BOOTH
1.4

14.
SV WOMAN VOTER
1.8

15.
SV PAN VOTER TO NOTICE BOARD
1.11

16.
SV PAN VOTER TO BALLOT BOX
1.16



Initials JM/S/MR/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE GENERAL ELECTION IN THE SUDAN: POLLING IN KHARTOUM, THE CAPITAL, SEEMS TO HAVE PASSED OFF QUIETLY THIS WEEK, IN SPITE OF THE THREAT OF TROUBLE FROM THE PEOPLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THE PARTY IS BOYCOTTING THE ELECTIONS, CLAIMING THEY WILL LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE SOUTHERN SUDAN.

ABOUT 150,000 OF THE CITY'S POPULATION WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, AND ACCORDING TO REPORTS THE TURN OUT WAS VERY HIGH. THEY WERE ELECTING 13 MEMBERS TO THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. ELSEWHERE IN THE SUDAN THE ELECTIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAY 8TH, AND THE FINAL RESULTS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL JUNE 7TH.

THE 166 VOTING STATIONS IN KHARTOUM OPENED AT 8 AM. AND CLOSED AT 5 PM. INSIDE, VOTERS FOUND POSTER ILLUSTRATING THE SYMBOLS OF VARIOUS CANDIDATES AND PARTIES. ONCE A VOTER'S NAME HAD BEEN CHECKED, WE WAS GIVEN A BALLOT PAPER BEARING ALL THE VARIOUS SYMBOLS - NO NAMES WERE PRINTED ON THE PAPERS. THE MAN VOTED ON WEDNESDAY, THE WOMEN ON THURSDAY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY THAT WOMEN HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY IS CHARGED WITH DRAWING UP A PERMANENT CONSTITUTION - ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE CIVILIAN GROUP WHICH SEIZED POWER FROM PRESIDENT ABBOUD LAST OCTOBER AND TOPPLED HIS SIX YEAR OLD MILITARY REGIME. NO ELECTIONS ARE BEING HELD IN THE SOUTH. SOUTHERN PARTIES ARE OPPOSED TO ANY ELECTION BEFORE THEIR FUTURE IS DECIDED. THEY ALSO OPPOSE CALLING A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY TO DECIDE ON A CONSTITUTION FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, WITHOUT THEM BEING REPRESENTED.

LAST WEEK THERE WERE CLASHES IN THE EASTERN CITY OF KHASHM EL GIRBA, WHERE 14 PEOPLE - INCLUDING FOUR POLICEMEN DIED WHEN PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC SUPPORTERS BURNED DOWN POLLING STATIONS.