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S Leoneans await election results S Leoneans await election results
(about 2 hours later)
Voters in Sierra Leone are waiting for the results of Saturday's presidential run-off, which passed off peacefully despite clashes during the campaign.Voters in Sierra Leone are waiting for the results of Saturday's presidential run-off, which passed off peacefully despite clashes during the campaign.
However, both parties have reported irregularities, such as their agents being barred from polling stations.However, both parties have reported irregularities, such as their agents being barred from polling stations.
Vice-President Solomon Berewa faced opposition candidate Ernest Koroma in the first election since UN peacekeepers pulled out. Opposition candidate Ernest Koroma has a slim lead over Vice-President Solomon Berewa, early unofficial results show.
Final official results are not due for several days. Final official results are not due for several days in the first elections since UN peacekeepers pulled out.
Foreign election observers have praised the absence of violence during voting.Foreign election observers have praised the absence of violence during voting.
Ballot stuffingBallot stuffing
The European Union observers commended the Electoral Commission for operating in a fair and transparent manner, but did highlight what appear to be some rather clumsy attempts at cheating at a few polling stations in governing party strongholds.
"We have some polling stations with 100% turnout and much more and that's why we are asking the National Election Commission to investigate in those places, in those polling stations, because something is wrong there," said the head of the EU team, Marie Anne Isler-Beguin.
An observer team from the National Democratic Institute, or NDI, also gave its assessment as largely positive, but noted suspiciously that in 14 polling stations turnout was around the 100% mark.
There were more than 6,000 polling stations so suspicious results is a small number, but in a tight race that won't be ignored, says the BBC's West Africa reporter Will Ross.
Abdul Fatau Musah, an observer from the regional body, Ecowas, said he could not confirm reports that election agents from Mr Koroma's All People's Congress (APC) were prevented from entering polling stations in the south-eastern Kailahun district.Abdul Fatau Musah, an observer from the regional body, Ecowas, said he could not confirm reports that election agents from Mr Koroma's All People's Congress (APC) were prevented from entering polling stations in the south-eastern Kailahun district.
Ernest Koroma (L) beat Solomon Berewa in the first round"We have no conclusive evidence of this but there are strong allegations," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.Ernest Koroma (L) beat Solomon Berewa in the first round"We have no conclusive evidence of this but there are strong allegations," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"We will reject the results from Kailahun, Kenema and Pujehun because we believe the process should have been open to all and our agents could not enter parts of those districts," said APC spokesman Alpha Kanu, according to the AFP news agency."We will reject the results from Kailahun, Kenema and Pujehun because we believe the process should have been open to all and our agents could not enter parts of those districts," said APC spokesman Alpha Kanu, according to the AFP news agency.
The ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) said its agents had been harassed in parts of the north.The ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) said its agents had been harassed in parts of the north.
"We have reports that 40 to 50 of our polling agents were harassed, intimidated and taken out of polling stations," SLPP National Chairman Alhaji Jah said, according to Reuters news agency."We have reports that 40 to 50 of our polling agents were harassed, intimidated and taken out of polling stations," SLPP National Chairman Alhaji Jah said, according to Reuters news agency.
Local monitoring body National Election Watch (NEW) reported some cases of ballot-stuffing, among other incidents.Local monitoring body National Election Watch (NEW) reported some cases of ballot-stuffing, among other incidents.
Sierra Leone is recovering from a brutal civil war, which officially ended in 2002.Sierra Leone is recovering from a brutal civil war, which officially ended in 2002.
The BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says that whoever wins, the new president will have the task of uniting a country which has, to a certain extent, been divided by this whole closely fought election. Our reporter says that whoever wins, the new president will have the task of uniting a country which has, to a certain extent, been divided by this whole closely fought election.