Rain causes S Leone poll nerves

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Torrential rain across Sierra Leone is hampering the delivery of some voting materials ahead of Saturday's presidential and parliamentary polls.

In the east, some vehicles have got stuck in mud and people have been sent to offload the polling equipment.

But the head of the country's electoral commission has told the BBC she is confident polls will open as planned.

Correspondents say the landmark polls are intended to move the country past the legacy of the recent civil war.

From the atmosphere around it seems people are ready to go to the polls come rain or shine Christiana Thorpe Electoral Commission head

The 2002 elections, which followed the end of the war, were organised by the United Nations.

This time around a new electoral commission has the task of organising the polls.

"This is make or break for the nation," admitted Electoral Commission head Christiana Thorpe on the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

Carnival

Ms Thorpe said that all districts across the country had received their voting material, and it was in the process of being distributed to constituencies.

SIERRA LEONE KEY FACTS 1787: Set up as a freed slaves settlement which became a British colony1991: 10-year civil war began50,000 people killed in the conflict Thousandsmore had limbs chopped off2002: Post-war elections organised by United Nations2005, 17,000 UN peacekeepers left This poll run by a new electoral commission2.6m voters 566 parliamentary candidates112 parliamentary seats Seven presidential contendersFrontrunners: - APC's Ernest Bai Koroma- PMDC's Charles Margai- SLPP's Solomon Berewa <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6938194.stm">Traffic light politics</a> <a class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_sierra_leone_slum/html/1.stm">In pictures: Freetown slum</a>

However, much of Sierra Leone's infrastructure was destroyed in the war, and its roads are notoriously poor.

The senior electoral official in the east, which has experienced most of the violence during campaigning, told the BBC that some of his vehicles that had set off from Kenema had become stuck because of the weather.

But Edward Nyale said the voting material had been rescued under tight security and would be delivered on time.

The BBC's Will Ross in the capital, Freetown, says on the whole the lead-up to the election has been peaceful.

He says this week there have been carnival-like scenes across the country as the political parties held their final rallies.

Dressed in party colours, the rival supporters took it in turns to fill the streets.

Each party was allotted a different day to hold its rally.

Protection

Seven candidates are standing in the presidential elections to replace President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.

A second round may be held between the two top contenders.

More than 500 candidates are vying for just over 100 parliamentary seats.

"From the atmosphere around it seems people are ready to go to the polls come rain or shine," Ms Thorpe said.

The majority of polling stations will be protected from the rain as they are mainly in schools. Those not in buildings have protective tarpaulin to shelter voters.

But, Ms Thorpe added, she hopes this will not be necessary.

"We're giving the rain 24 hours. Let it spill all day today and be quiet tomorrow," she said.