Election Protests in Indonesia

Hundreds of Indonesians demonstrate in front of the General Election Commission (KPU) office complaining about alleged vote rigging and cheating during the presidential election.

Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto is on course to win the archipelago's presidential poll by a wide margin. But The final result is not expected until late March.

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto was on course to win the archipelago's presidential poll by a wide margin, official tallies showed with more than half of votes counted.

The final result is not expected until late March but early indications all point to the 72-year-old ex-general succeeding popular outgoing leader Joko Widodo.

With more than half the ballots counted, Prabowo had a commanding 57 percent of votes, more than double his nearest rival and enough for a first-round majority, the election commission's website showed.

Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan was at 24.98 percent and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo had 18.02 percent.

"Thank God, we must be grateful and continue to monitor the KPU's official results," Prabowo wrote on Instagram, referring to the general election commission.

The fiery populist claimed a "victory for all Indonesians" alongside his running mate -- the current president's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka -- based on preliminary results by government-approved pollsters.

The early sample counts -- previously shown to be reliable -- showed they were set for a first-round majority. Gibran, 36, would become Indonesia's youngest-ever vice president. 

But both of his rivals said they would wait for the official result and had not conceded.

Analysts said Prabowo's win was almost assured.

Jokowi has been accused of backing his former rival and defense chief's campaign in a bid to install a political dynasty, via his son, before leaving office.