Indonesia's parliamentary elections begin

[Turborama]

Source: CNN

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Voting has begun in Indonesia's parliamentary elections, with 38 parties vying for one of 700 parliamentary seats. The outcome of the election will determine which parties can field presidential candidates for the July election.

Damin Sada, from the Islamic-based United Development Party, is one from among 12,000 election candidates.

Smiling broadly, flanked by a photo illustration of U.S. President Barack Obama and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden -- his hands clasped over theirs -- he says he is depicting himself as a broker of peace between the two sides and the billboard is part of his campaign to educate voters on the significant role that Indonesia can play in the global war on terror.

It is Indonesia's third direct election since the authoritarian regime of Suharto fell in 1998, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. The outcome is not just significant in determining the country's future -- it could also have a global impact.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/indonesia.elections/index.html