AFP, Columbia

Democrats in South Carolina began voting early Saturday in a primary election fiercely contested by the party’s two leading contenders, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Polls opened throughout the southern state at 7:00 am (1200 GMT) and were set to close 12 hours later. The ‘first in the south’ nominating contest is also the final contested Democratic nominating clash before February 5, “Super Tuesday” when nearly two dozen states hold contests, on a night that could play a key role in deciding this year’s presidential candidates. [Read more]