Japan mission: Poll an improvement

JAKARTA: The Japanese government observation mission, which deployed observers for the presidential election here, said the first direct election was a significant step toward the consolidation of democracy in the country.

"As far as the mission could ascertain, the process of voting and counting at each polling station was conducted peacefully and smoothly," the mission said in a statement.

It said some possible irregularities of voting standard procedures were not considered widespread enough to affect the legitimacy of the process.

The mission was led by Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka Iimura and consisted of 40 members. The Japanese government provided a total of US$23 million to help the government with election expenses. -- JP