Guinea votes in tense election.
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 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.
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.
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.
Voting started 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."
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."
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.
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.
Guinea has not had a legislative election since 2002.
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 vote will replace a transitional parliament that has run the nation since military rule ended in 2010.
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.
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.
Voting started 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."
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."
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.
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.
Guinea has not had a legislative election since 2002.
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