20091130

MALABO (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema won 96.7 percent of the vote in the central African country's election, according to provisional results on Monday of a poll criticised for falling short of democratic standards.

The figure was published on the government's website after returns from around a quarter of voting stations.

Sunday's election was the latest in a string of polls in Africa this year entrenching a ruling party or legitimising a military takeover amid accusations of fraud, raising concerns of a trend away from democracy on the continent.

Obiang came to power 30 years ago and is now set for a further seven-year term in which he is expected to pursue his goal of transforming the tiny country of 650,000 into a major energy producer despite mounting human rights concerns.

"Provisional results -- overwhelming victory for the candidate of the PDGE (ruling party), Obiang Nguema Mbasogo," the website said of Sunday's election, using Obiang's full name.

The provisional result was just short of Obiang's 2002 score of 97.1 percent and will come as little surprise to analysts and critics who noted the lack of credible rivals, and the lack of access to the elections for foreign media.

NO SURPRISES

"The result was never in any kind of doubt," said independent Africa risk analyst Antony Goldman.

"The president has always been fairly keen on continuity in policy, and it would be a surprise if there were any significant change in the short term."