Guinea's opposition candidates said today they will not recognise provisional results for the country's presidential election, citing fraud.
"The Guinean opposition will not recognize the outcome of the poll. We call for outright cancellation of this election," main opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo said at a press conference alongside six other candidates who are running against President Alpha Conde.
Diallo said there were flagrant violations of the laws of the republic. He said ballot boxes were stuffed and voters were intimidated.
Another opposition candidate Lansana Kouyate said some of his supporters were prevented from voting.
Candidate Faya Millimono said what happened was a setback to democracy. "Ministers were seen distributing money to voters," Millimono said.
Candidate Marie Madeleine Dioubate asked voters to remain calm.
There was no immediate reaction from the government or the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The opposition last week called for the polls to be postponed, but the electoral commission said everything was in order.
Some polling stations remained open late, after voting materials arrived late or ran out. Others said voting ran smoothly.
Provisional results are expected from one to three days after the polls closed Sunday evening, said electoral commission spokesman Salif Kebe.
Many hope that political violence that killed at least three in the run-up to this election, and that marred the first democratic election in 2010, does not resurface.
President Conde is favored to win, though many say it is likely he will face a second round of voting against Diallo. Guinea has endured decades of corrupt dictatorship since independence from France in 1958.
In 2008, after the longtime strongman died, a military coup led to tumultuous rule until the junta's leader agreed to go into exile.
