Voting extended in Sudan's first multi-party elections in 24 years

It is the second day of voting in Sudan's first multi-party elections for 24 years.

The presidential, parliamentary and state polls are part of the deal that ended Sudan's 21-year civil war between north and south.

The deal also stipulated that there would be a referendum next year on whether the south should break away from the rest of the country.

There have been reports of confusion and disarray in the voting in many regions, with many polling stations opening late.

As a result the National Election Commission has announced it is extending voting for two days, meaning the election will now last for five days.

President Omar al-Bashir is seeking a democratic mandate since being indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, but a boycott of the poll by his two main challengers means his mandate is likely to be reduced.

The BBC's Africa editor, Martin Plaut, is in the capital Khartoum.

The BBC's Will Ross visited a polling station in Juba, the main city in the south, where Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro went to vote.

First broadcast 12 April 2010