Annan calls for Guinea-Bissau’s acceptance of Supreme Court’s election ruling

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on all parties in Guinea-Bissau to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, which confirmed the final results of the presidential elections in the West African country that has been roiled by coups and attempted coups since it gained its independence from Portugal three decades ago.

The ruling, announced last Friday on the second round of elections for the presidency held on 24 July, was made within the framework of the electoral law and the country's constitutional process, Mr. Annan said through his spokesman.

Following the judgement would enable Guinea-Bissau, a country of an estimated 1.4 million people, “to move forward to a more peaceful and prosperous future with the support of the international community,” Mr. Annan said.

When the provisional ruling was announced on 28 July Mr. Annan reminded the people of Guinea-Bissau that agreeing to the final ruling would herald full restoration of constitutional rule in the country.

The country’s electoral commission declared former president João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira the new president with 52 per cent of the vote, and Malam Bacai Sanha second, with 48 per cent. Mr. Sanha, whose party has a parliamentary majority, appealed to the Supreme Court.