Polls open in Central African Republic election

Thousands in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui have started voting in the country's presidential election, with hope that a new president will lead to stability after years of violence.

Voters are choosing a president from a list of 30 candidates to replace transitional leader Catherine Samba-Panza, who was put in place in January 2014 to lead the nation ahead of a poll, which has been delayed several times.

More than 1.8 million people are expected to vote at more than 500 polling stations across the country.

UN peacekeepers

UN peacekeepers and police have been deployed to safeguard polls, after violence threatened voters during a referendum on December 13th.

That vote was seen as a test for these national elections.

The Central African Republic has been torn by violence since March 2013, when a largely Muslim alliance of rebel groups overthrew the president.

PA