Coup leader, convicted drug trafficker, president: Desi Bouterse aims to extend long reign in Suriname

Suriname has voted in general elections with Desi Bouterse, its convicted drug-trafficker president, seeking to tighten his controversial grip on power.

Bouterse, who has ruled the small South American country on and off since 1980, is looking to end his alliance with one-time nemesis Ronnie Brunswijk and preside over the first non-coalition democratic government in Suriname's history.

Bouterse's National Democratic Party formed a government at the last elections in 2010 by forging a motley mega-coalition, returning him to power for the second time since his 1980-87 military government.

But after the coalition fell apart, the NDP decided to go it alone, buoyed by strong standings in opinion polls.

The party needs to win at least 26 seats in the 51-member National Assembly to govern alone, and 34 seats to re-elect Bouterse - the president is chosen by a two-thirds majority of parliament.

Bouterse, who has been a two-time coup leader, dictator and international fugitive, was expected to cast his ballot late in the day.

The Netherlands convicted him in absentia of cocaine smuggling in 1999 but he has remained free because Suriname does not extradite its citizens.