Gaborone, Dhu-AlHijjah 30, 1435, Oct 24, 2014, SPA -- Polling stations opened Friday in nationwide elections that will determine Botswana's next president and bring a slew of fierce political campaigns to a close. According to dpa, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled the souther African country since 1965, faces a tough challenge from a recently united opposition. More than 820,000 people have registered to vote, slightly more than in 2009. Three opposition parties, including the Botswana Movement for Democracy which split from the BDP in 2010, have joined forces to form the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Another runner for the opposition is the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), currently third-largest in the 61-member parliament. --SPA 14:11 LOCAL TIME 11:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w