JAKARTA, Sept 21: Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has triumphed over incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia's first direct presidential vote, but must now deliver on promises of tighter security, better government and more jobs.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Yudhoyono had yet to claim victory in Monday's run-off, but had begun work to form a new cabinet. With almost two-thirds of the vote counted, the official count showed he had won 60 percent to Megawati's 40 percent, in line with an independent quick forecast of the final vote tally.

In past elections, early counting has proved a reliable guide to final results. Given the custom among Indonesians from the main island of Java - home to Yudhoyono - to act with caution and follow strict etiquette, he may wait for all the vote to be counted or a nod from the election commission before he announces victory.

Perhaps for similar reasons, supporters of SBY - as he is popularly known - have yet to celebrate openly. However, his vice presidential candidate, wealthy businessman and non-Javanese Jusuf Kalla, was less cautious. "It clearly is apparent that it is going for SBY. We are definitely confident that (the end result) won't be far from this."

Indonesia's financial markets did not wait to welcome the win, rising on expectations the business-friendly Yudhoyono, 55, will appoint a strong cabinet, and relief a long voting season in the world's most populous Muslim nation had passed without the election-related violence some feared.

The final presidential vote followed an elimination round in July and a parliamentary ballot in April. The stock market closed at a record high, while the rupiah currency traded around its best levels against the dollar in two months before profit taking hit in the afternoon. -Reuters