20120402
AFP
The UN Security Council on Saturday urged Guinea Bissau candidates and voters to "exercise restraint" ahead of a run-off presidential vote in the coup-prone west African country.

In a statement, the 15 members of the council urged the country's political leaders to "resolve their disputes in accordance with the constitutional framework."

They "urged the political parties to engage in dialogue on preparations for the run-off election" and "called upon all political leaders and their supporters to exercise restraint."

The members also "underscored the importance of successful conclusion of the presidential and legislative elections to achieving progress on critical peace-building priorities in Guinea-Bissau" including demobilizing the military and police, fighting drug trafficking and making progress on national reconciliation.

And they "emphasized the need for the national authorities in Guinea-Bissau to bring those responsible for any acts of election-related violence to justice."

Having come second with 23 percent of the ballots in the first round of voting, ex-president Kumba Yala is due to face should face ex-prime minister Carlos Gomes, who scored 49 percent, in the runoff set for April.

Yala has led a call by the opposition to have the first poll annulled, saying it was riddled with fraud.