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Diallo Aide Expects Sunday Vote in Guinea Despite Violence

   Peter Clottey 13 September 2010
   Burkina   Faso   President   Blaise  Compaore,  right,  greets  Guinea
   presidential frontrunner Cellou Dalein Diallo (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Burkina   Faso   President   Blaise  Compaore,  right,  greets  Guinea
   presidential  frontrunner  Cellou  Dalein  Diallo,  as  he  meets with
   members  of  the  transitional  government  at  the People's Palace in
   Conakry, Guinea, 3 Aug 2010 (file photo)

   A top official of the Union of Democratic Forces in Guinea (UDFG) said
   supporters  of presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Cellou
   Dalein  Diallo  are  not  interested  in  committing violence ahead of
   Sundayâs second round vote.

   Yousouff  Sylla,  a  special adviser to Mr. Diallo, predicted the vote
   will  proceed  as  planned  despite demands by supporters of the other
   candidate, opposition leader Alpha Conde, that the vote be postponed.

   âThe  (interim)  Prime Minister (Jean-Marie Dore) met them (Diallo and
   Conde)  separately  just  to inform them that we need order and safety
   for  everybody  to go peacefully and vote on the 19^th of September as
   scheduled,â he said.

   The  meeting  followed  violent  clashes  between  supporters  of both
   candidates  over  the  weekend  that left at least one dead and dozens
   injured. The government has banned street protests.

   Interim Prime Minister Dore Monday called on both candidates to ensure
   that their supporters do not engage in violence during the vote.

   The    independent   electoral   commission   suspended   presidential
   campaigning.  This  prompted Conde supporters to demand the suspension
   of the vote.

   But,  Sylla rejected the call for the postponement saying his party is
   ready to win Sundayâs election run-off.

   âMr.  Diallo  has  been  clear  about  this  (and)  he explained that,
   normally,  the  election should have been held on the 14^th of August.
   But,  the  body  responsible  for  the  election  asked  for  it to be
   postponed.  As  we  can  see  it,  Mr.  Conde is still not ready. Just
   remember  that  he  got 18.25 percent in the first round and we got 44
   percent. He has a major gap to fill.â

   Some  observers  have  criticized  both  candidates  for  the violence
   following  their  agreement  with  mediator Burkinabe President Blaise
   Compaore.  Both  presidential  aspirants  agreed  to  encourage  their
   supporters  to  desist  from  engaging  in  violence ahead of Sundayâs
   run-off.

   But,  some  Guineans are concerned the vote could be marred by violent
   clashes in the country with a long history of ethnic animosity.

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