There is a carnival atmosphere in Jakarta's Tanah Abang district as voters cheer another ballot cast for Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Struggle).

An election official opens a brightly-coloured ballot and calls out the party that has been voted for - one of 48 possible choices.

Election officials help an elderly lady dip her finger in indelible ink, the system used to prevent voters casting more than one ballot.

Incumbent President BJ Habibie appears to offer a prayer as he drops his ballot into the box.

Leader of PDI-Struggle and presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri prepares to vote during a break in the torrential rain that plagued election day.

Former President Suharto shows his ink-covered finger as he leaves the polling booth. The end of his 32-year authoritarian rule last year made the election possible.

Tens of thousands of expatriate Indonesians cast their ballots in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The count begins - a European Union monitor called the Indonesian election an "exemplary operation".

To see the campaign in pictures, click here.