The European Union’s observer mission in Guinea commended voters for their enthusiasm and peaceful conduct during presidential elections and called for transparency as the electoral commission finalizes the results of the first round.
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Diallo said there should be new elections for the sake of peace and stability in Guinea.
Cellou Dalein Diallo’s Union for the Democratic Forces of Guinea party said that the decision was made given the refusal by the government and the electoral commission to comply with a minimum of democratic rules, according to party spokesman Aboubacar Sylla.
But he also said there were many shortcomings, including problems with voter registration.
There were no reports of violence on Sunday, after clashes earlier in the week between supporters of Conde and the opposition left at least three dead.
All seven opposition leaders who contested Guinea’s presidential election against incumbent Alpha Conde said on Monday the result should be annulled because of fraud.
Around noon on Tuesday, groups of youngsters hurled stones at each other near his home but were dispersed by police using teargas, an AFP reporter said.
Several people were killed in clashes during the election campaign.
Early results announced by radio stations so far showed Conde in the lead, though a second round is possible.
“What I saw in terms of insufficient (voting material), lack of preparation and logistical and practical difficulties at the polling stations does not mar the validity of the election”, Engels said.
Even before voting opened, opposition parties had warned of fraud and vote-rigging and accused the CENI of mismanaging the poll.
Conde was elected five years ago to head the mineral-rich but impoverished nation after returning from three decades in exile to defeat Diallo, a former prime minister who remains his closest rival.
The first tally of votes will be released as early as Thursday, the electoral commission said.
“We are calling on everyone to give up on the street [protests]”.
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“What he [Cellou Dalein Diallo] said was – keep your strengths, reserve your energy right now cause you’ll need it later, so we do expect a few election violence upon the announcement of the results and the intensity of the violence will be dependent on the results”, said Fielding.
