French voters flocked to choose a new president on Sunday in an election dominated by right-wing front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Ségolène Royal, who hopes to be the first woman elected head of state. Sarkozy led Royal and the other 10 candidates in opinion polls throughout the long campaign.

Rebel forces entered the Central African Republic town of Birao on Saturday, but government soldiers and a small detachment of French soldiers remained in the town, France’s defence ministry said. France in December sent special forces to dislodge rebel fighters from Birao and a large swathe of its former colony.