Honduras on edge as nation votes

Honduras is bracing itself for potential violence as more than five million people voted yesterday to replace President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is accused of drug trafficking in the United States.

Leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro led opinion polls last month, but the ruling right-wing National Party (PN) and the charismatic Tegucigalpa mayor Nasry Asfura has greater resources to run its campaign.

Opposition fears of a rigged poll and reports of pre-election intimidation have led to high tensions. The concerns come for a country already ravaged by violent gangs, drug trafficking and hurricanes, in which 59% of the population of 10 million live in poverty.