Reporter: Peter Lloyd

Tony eastley: While we have to wait another three weeks to find out who will be our new government, in Indonesia more than 150 million voters will cast their ballots today in the final phase of the nation's first direct presidential election. Polls suggest incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri has little chance of retaining power, pointing instead to victory for former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. South East Asia Correspondent Peter Lloyd reports.

Peter Lloyd: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono emerged as frontrunner in first round presidential elections in July and has continued to dominate opinion polls ever since. Yudhoyono commands more than double the support for Megawati in surveys that rate personality over policies.

The Australian Embassy bombing may help the security minded former general, but terror is far less a concern to voters here than mass unemployment, stalled economic reform and tackling corruption.

Opponents say Yudhoyono's long military background, including service in East Timor, should disqualify him from leadership in the new, democratic Indonesia. But his supporters counter by pointing out that as Security Minister under Megawati's predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid, it was Yudhoyono who was sacked for refusing to support Wahid's plan to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to avert impeachment. Later, as Megawati's security minister, he was seen as a restraining influence on army hardliners. The General himself has pleaded for a chance to prove his credentials.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: Of course I try to respect democracy, human right and other things that is practised in democratic countries. But of course I have to admit that I have my military background and actually in the world there are many generals who finally become president, who respect democracy and other values that is held by the community at large.

Peter Lloyd: To Western governments, Yudhoyono's appeal is that he's a leader promising to tackle terrorism.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: Of course I have to empower the true religious leaders in this country to lead the people to be a moderate Muslim, to be a moderate people in Indonesia and we have to avoid our people to be hijacked by the extremists.

Peter Lloyd: Megawati has campaigned less in recent weeks, concentrating instead on forming a last minute alliance with former dictator Suharto's powerful Golkar Party. But this marriage of convenience is unlikely to save her from electoral defeat. Rebel Golkar figures like Fahmi Idris are telling supporters to vote for Yudhoyono.

Fahmi Idris: The future of Indonesia, as you know, we have so many problems – unemployment, poverty, education, stability. So this kind of problem cannot be solved by Megawati. That's why, if we're talking about the future of Indonesia, we should take care of this problem, we have to solve this problem and I'm quite sure Megawati has no ability to do that. That's why I do not support Mega, not because of the past, but for the future.

Peter Lloyd: If Golkar voters do desert Megawati today, her time left as president can be counted in hours, with unofficial results expected later tonight.

In Jakarta, this is Peter Lloyd, reporting for AM.