Cyprus to elect new president amid economic crisis

People in the Republic of Cyprus are set to vote for a new president.

Centre-right leader Nicos Anastasiades has a 15-point lead in the polls over his main rival, leftist Stavros Malas.

However, Mr Anastasiades is not predicted to win more than 50% of the vote, which would be required to avoid a run-off vote on 24 February.

The election has been dominated by the global financial crisis. In June, Cyprus became the fifth member of the eurozone to request a bailout.

Shut out of the international financial markets, the cash-strapped government was forced to seek financial help after Cypriot banks suffered huge losses as a result of the restructuring of Greece's sovereign debt.

It has requested some 17bn euros ($22.7bn; £14.6bn) from the European Union and International Monetary Fund - a small amount in comparison with other rescues but roughly equal to Cyprus's gross domestic product.