20101203
africanews

Guinea's Supreme Court confirmed early Friday the election victory of long time opposition leader Alpha Conde. Mr Conde had won 52.52 percent of votes as against rival Cellou Dalein Diallo's 47.48 percent in the last election run-off.

"The candidate of the RPG (Rally of the Guinean People), professor Alpha Conde, is elected president of the Republic," AFP quoted Magistrate Mamadou Sylla as saying in an announcement to newsmen.

Civil organisations had earlier called on Guineans to accept the court's decision to avoid political violence that had left several persons dead and many others wounded, urging political leaders to act in a calm manner and ensure security.

Conde's election victory is said to have come after two attempts at becoming Guinea's President. The election has been described as the country's first free and democratic election since independence from France in 1958.

The 72-year-old former professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris returned to Guinea in the early nineties after 30 years in exile. He reportedly spent more than two years in prison under the regime of General Lansana Conte (1984-2008).