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| Guinea votes in tense election | Guinea votes in tense election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The people of Guinea are voting in their first parliamentary election since a coup in 2008. | |
| The run-up has been marred by violence, ethnic and religious tension, electoral disputes and intense distrust between the main parties. | The run-up has been marred by violence, ethnic and religious tension, electoral disputes and intense distrust between the main parties. |
| The opposition has accused President Alpha Conde's party of trying to rig the elections. | The opposition has accused President Alpha Conde's party of trying to rig the elections. |
| The vote will replace a transitional parliament that has run the nation since military rule ended in 2010. | The vote will replace a transitional parliament that has run the nation since military rule ended in 2010. |
| Calm urged | Calm urged |
| Poll dates have been repeatedly scheduled and then postponed, largely due to opposition allegations that the government was trying to rig the vote. | Poll dates have been repeatedly scheduled and then postponed, largely due to opposition allegations that the government was trying to rig the vote. |
| The polls were originally meant to take place within six months of Alpha Conde taking office in 2010. | The polls were originally meant to take place within six months of Alpha Conde taking office in 2010. |
| After a series of negotiations failed to end the impasse, the UN stepped in and helped set a date. | After a series of negotiations failed to end the impasse, the UN stepped in and helped set a date. |
| Voting begins at 08:00 GMT, with 1,700 candidates vying for 114 seats. | Voting begins at 08:00 GMT, with 1,700 candidates vying for 114 seats. |
| Mr Conde said on Friday: "These elections will allow us to emerge from a chaotic five-year transition." | Mr Conde said on Friday: "These elections will allow us to emerge from a chaotic five-year transition." |
| Souleymane Doumbouya, a spokesman for Mr Conde's Rally of the Guinean People party, said: "We are already savouring our victory." | Souleymane Doumbouya, a spokesman for Mr Conde's Rally of the Guinean People party, said: "We are already savouring our victory." |
| Main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, said: "Alpha Conde invents a permanent conspiracy so that he can blame our party. These are old demons coming back, but they do not weaken us." | Main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, said: "Alpha Conde invents a permanent conspiracy so that he can blame our party. These are old demons coming back, but they do not weaken us." |
| Violence has marred the run-up, with opposition protesters shooting dead a trainee policeman earlier this week in clashes that left 70 people wounded. | Violence has marred the run-up, with opposition protesters shooting dead a trainee policeman earlier this week in clashes that left 70 people wounded. |
| Religious and political leaders have called for a calm election day. | Religious and political leaders have called for a calm election day. |
| Mamadou Saliou Camara, the grand imam of the capital, Conakry, said: "Any political struggle must be made for Guinea and not against it. Muslims and Christians, all religious leaders call on people to do their patriotic duty without violence." | Mamadou Saliou Camara, the grand imam of the capital, Conakry, said: "Any political struggle must be made for Guinea and not against it. Muslims and Christians, all religious leaders call on people to do their patriotic duty without violence." |
| The military took control after President Lansana Conte died in 2008. | The military took control after President Lansana Conte died in 2008. |
| Guinea has not had a legislative election since 2002. | Guinea has not had a legislative election since 2002. |