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October 31 Proposed as Guinea Election Date


Guinea's leading presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo at the People's Hall in Conakry, Guinea, 21 Sep 2010
Guinea's leading presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo at the People's Hall in Conakry, Guinea, 21 Sep 2010

Guinea's electoral commission has proposed Sunday, October 31, as the new date for the country's presidential run-off election.

The poll has been delayed three times since July, most recently last week, because of political disputes, logistical problems and election-related street clashes.

Commission Chief General Siaka Toumany Sangare said Tuesday that he had proposed the new date to Guinea's transitional government. Acting President General Sekouba Konate would have to approve the new date.

The run-off is a contest between former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo and longtime opposition leader Alpha Conde. Mr. Diallo won the first round of voting in June with 44 percent. Mr. Conde was second with 18 percent.

Sangare was picked to head the electoral commission last week after Mr. Diallo objected to the previous chief, who he said favored Mr. Conde.

The election is meant to return Guinea to civilian rule after decades of dictatorship and nearly two years of a military junta.

If Guinea holds the vote Sunday, it will be one of three African countries holding presidential elections that day, along with Ivory Coast and Tanzania.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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