LIBREVILLE, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Gabon kicked off first of its separate presidential elections on Friday, with soldiers, police and security forces voting two days earlier than the general public.

    The vote started in the morning and about 19,000 soldiers cast the ballots peacefully in 14 voting centers throughout the country, according to the electoral commission.

    It is the first time that this central African country holds separate elections for soldiers and the rest of the public since the constitution was amended in 2003.

    According to the constitution, the army men and the security forces should vote ahead of the main poll, as they will be on duty later to ensure a peaceful election for the general public.

    The constitution was also amended to abolish the two-term limitfor the head of state, allowing the president to seek reelection indefinitely.

    Some 560,000 Gabonese are registered to vote out of a population estimated at around 1.5 million.

    The three major presidential candidates are incumbent President Bongo Ondimba, a former minister and close Bongo ally, Zacharie Myboto, and Pierre Mamboundou, a prominent opposition candidate who lost heavily to Bongo in the last elections in 1998.

    Bongo is widely expected to win the elections which will prolong his 38 years rule in Gabon as Sunday's polls are seen as a one-sided contest by many people.

    The other challengers are Augustin Moussavou King of the Gabonese Socialist Party and Serge Christian Maroga of the Rally of Democrats party. Enditem