The head of Guinea Bissau's election commission has asked for more security at election offices after a top military official was killed the same day of presidential polling.
Desejado Lima da Costa tells VOA that the military has agreed to provide the extra security. He says the country's army chief has also given assurances that the military will continue to secure the vote until the end of the electoral process.
Officials in the coup-prone West African nation say the former head of military intelligence, Samba Diallo, was shot dead just hours after a peaceful presidential vote on Sunday. Witnesses say Diallo was killed by men in military uniform near his home in the capital, Bissau.
Officials say there is no link between the killing and the vote.
Earlier Monday, the United Nations mission in Guinea Bissau said the world body and its international partners are “very pleased” with the country's presidential vote.
A spokesman for the U.N. Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau , Vladimir Monteiro, told VOA that turnout was low early during Sunday's voting, but that election officials were able to encourage more people to participate later in the day.
“We don't have the figures yet, but what is important is that it was held in a very peaceful manner.”
Results are expected within one week.
The U.N. mission spokesman said he heard citizens voice hopes of stability Sunday.
“All voters interviewed by radio were pronouncing one word – we are voting because we want peace, and we are expecting that this election process will lead to the stabilization of the country. Definitely.”
Nine candidates are seeking the presidency.
The front-runners include former president Kumba Yala, who was overthrown in a 2003 coup, and Carlos Gomes Junior who resigned as prime minister to run for president.
If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff will take place next month.
Since winning independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea Bissau has struggled through a dictatorship, three coups and the 2009 assassination of a president. The country is also known as a haven for cocaine smugglers.
No elected president has served a full, five-year term.
The winner will succeed late president Malam Bacai Sanha, who died in January after a lengthy illness two years after being elected.
Dozens of international observers monitored the election.
