GUINEA SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF
Baku, July 21 (AZERTAC). The Supreme Court in Guinea has confirmed that there will be a second round in the country`s landmark presidential election.
Former PM Cellou Dalein Diallo and his main rival, opposition leader Alpha Conde, will face each other.
The run-off, initially due on 18 July, was postponed after the Supreme Court received complaints of fraud.
The vote has been hailed as Guinea`s first free election since it gained independence from France in 1958.
Provisional results from the first round on 27 June said Mr. Diallo and Mr. Conde had been the two candidates with most votes, from a total of 24.
The Supreme Court confirmed this, and gave Mr. Diallo almost 44% of the vote and Mr. Conde 18%.
No new date has so far been given for the run-off.
Guinea has been governed by a military junta for the past 18 months since the death of its longtime leader, Gen Lansana Conte, in 2008.
Mr. Diallo served several terms as prime minister under Gen Conte, who came to power during a military coup in 1984.
Guinea is the world`s largest exporter of the aluminum ore bauxite.
It also has important deposits of iron ore.
Despite its mineral wealth, the country is one of the poorest in West Africa.
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