East Timor votes for first president

The two candidates Gusmao (right) and do Amaral (left) voted together early Sunday morning

DILI, East Timor -- Voters in East Timor are going to the polls to elect a president who will lead the country into independence after decades of occupation and bloodshed.

In a display of unity rarely seen in presidential elections elsewhere the two candidates in the vote walked to their polling station arm in arm Sunday to cast their ballot.

Former guerilla leader Xanana Gusmao is widely expected to dominate the vote, easily beating Francisco Xavier do Amaral who briefly held the post of East Timorese president before the Indonesian invasion in 1975.

Gusmao, who is already regarded by many East Timorese as the territory's de facto leader, says his priority will be economic growth.

Do Amaral, for his part, has said he is resigned to coming in second, saying he is running largely to give East Timorese a choice.

IN-DEPTH A new nation is born    EXTRA INFORMATION Underdog runs to win ... for democracy     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

The election is the final milestone before East Timor is formally granted independence on May 20, becoming the first new nation of the new millennium.

The role of president will be largely ceremonial under East Timor's new constitution, but the new leader is expected to play a crucial role in uniting the territory and helping heal the bitter wounds of the past.

Huge turnout expected

Around 430,000 residents are eligible to vote in the presidential poll.

The United Nations -- which has administered the territory since it voted to cut ties with Indonesia in 1999 -- says it expects a huge turnout.

Polling stations across the territory will remain open until 1600 local time with dozens of local and international observer groups monitoring the progress of voting.

The ballot is the last major step in East Timor's long and often bloody road to independence

Election officials say the campaign has been free from intimidation and are expecting no security problems to affect voting.

Most East Timorese consider the result a foregone conclusion, with many observers focusing on the challenges Gusmao will face as the country moves to full independence.

One of the key concerns raised by observers is whether he will be able to work with the ruling Fretilin party, which has held back from backing Gusmao's candidacy.

Gusmao says there is no tension between them, just differences of opinion.

The formal announcement of the winner is scheduled to take place on April 17 with analysts forecasting that Gusmao could win as much as 80 percent of the vote.