Sudan votes in controversial poll

Sudan was voting yesterday in elections boycotted by the mainstream opposition that are expected to extend the quarter-century rule of President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted on war crimes charges.
With 15 little-known candidates running against him, 71-year-old Bashir faces no real competition in the vote, which has already been criticised by the international community.
Voters will also elect national and state lawmakers in the three-day poll, with Bashir's ruling National Congress Party expected to dominate.
There was a slow early turnout on the streets of the capital yesterday, after the government declared polling day a public holiday.
Bashir arrived at the St Francis School to vote around 11:00 am (0800 GMT), smiling and waving as he entered the polling station with one of his two wives amid heavy security. Journalists outnumbered voters.
Bashir toppled a democratically elected government in an Islamist-backed coup and is Sudan's longest-serving leader since independence.
He won a 2010 presidential election that was marred by an opposition boycott and criticised for failing to meet international standards.
Under his rule Sudan's economy has faltered, suffering badly from South Sudan's 2011 secession, which saw it lose nearly three-quarters of its oil resources.
Conflict has plagued South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011, and the Darfur region since 2003.
Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, and the following year for genocide.