Presidential elections took place in Guinea-Bissau in an atmosphere of calm on Sunday despite tensions generated by the assassination of President Joao Bernado Vieira by the military.

Le Potentiel reports that voting began at 07h00 (GMT) and closed ten hours later in the country of 1.3 million. Counting, which began immediately after the voting ended, was scheduled to carry on through the night. Provisional results are awaited in the coming days.

According to Johan Van Hecke, the head of the European Union observer mission, turn-out was lower than for the 2008 legislative elections. Heavy rains, especially in Bissau, were part of but not the only reason for the low poll. Hecke is the head of a 21-man mission, which visited 80 of the 2,700 polling stations around the country.

Three candidates, all former heads of state, have distinguished themselves among the 11 candidates who stood.
They are Bacaï Sanha (1999-2000) of the Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, which was the ruling party before the advent of multi-party rule, Kumba Yala (2000-2003) of the Socialist party, and Henrique Rosa (2003-2005), who is an independent candidate.

It is hoped the election will bring some stability to a country plagued by political instability for nearly 10 years. Guinea-Bissau is widely regarded as one of the poorest in the world.

Report from the original French adapted and translated by Michael Tantoh.
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