Argentina vote goes to run-off

FORMER president Carlos Menem and Santa Cruz province Governor Nestor Kirchner will face off in Argentina’s first-ever presidential run-off on May 18, battling it out over how best to solve the crisis that has crippled Latin America’s third-largest economy.

With 18 candidates competing in the presidential election's first round last Sunday, Menem won 24% of votes, and Kirchner, the heir-apparent of President Eduardo Duhalde, earned 22%, with 97% of ballots counted.

Voter turnout was high, at 80% of 25.5 million voters, despite predictions of apathy in this crisis-weary country. Less than 1% of voters cast blank ballots, a sign of protest.