International observers say Guinea-Bissau's elections transparent - UN

International observers from more than a dozen governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) declared legislative elections held over the weekend in Guinea-Bissau to be "free, fair and transparent" and called on all political actors to respect the results, according to the UN Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS).

Ninety-eight international observers were deployed throughout the country to oversee the elections Sunday, which were held to reconstitute the National People's Assembly that was dissolved in 2002, UNOGBIS said in a statement.

Due to logistical difficulties, mostly in the capital Bissau, 20 per cent of the polling stations were not able to open at all on Sunday. They reopened yesterday to allow some 30, 000 voters to cast their ballots.

While the observers declared the balloting to be "free, fair and transparent," a few political parties have been making statements alleging fraud.

UNOGBIS said a new government is expected to be formed in the next few days, following the announcement of the results.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) provided technical and financial assistance to organize the elections and the UN Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) helped coordinate and gave logistical support to the observers.