Soldiers in motorbikes patrol a street during an election rally promoting the government's coalition in Valichenai, about 180 kilometers (113 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday May 7, 2008. The government has hailed the provincial election as a crucial step toward restoring democracy to the east and destroying the last vestiges of the Tamil Tiger rebels' 13-year rule. But opposition candidates and election observers say the ruling party, which formed an electoral coalition with a breakaway fraction of Tamil rebels are using every means at their disposal, government resources as well as intimidation by gunmen, to ensure a victory. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

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