December 3, 10

NEWS / Ban welcomes conclusion of presidential election in Guinea, urges reconciliation

3 December 2010 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the certification of the results of the presidential poll in Guinea and urged the people of the West African country to accept the outcome and to move towards peace and national reconciliation.

Mr. Ban congratulated the president-elect, Alpha Conde, and encouraged him to work to consolidate and promote national unity.

Guinea’s Supreme Court certified the results of the run-off presidential election held on 7 November in which Mr. Conde was pitted against the country’s former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo.

The run-off poll followed the first round of the election in June. It was the final stage of the interim Government’s efforts to restore democracy after Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in a coup in 2008 following the death of long-time president Lansana Conté.

Mr. Ban deplored the incidents of violence and violations of human rights that followed the release of the provisional results on 15 November.

“He emphasizes the need to respect international human rights standards and calls on the security forces to ensure the protection of all Guineans. He warns those who may incite or perpetrate violence that they will be held accountable,” said a statement issued by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

Mr. Ban commended all those who facilitated the transition process in Guinea, including the country’s leaders, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso – in his capacity as the mediator mandated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and Guinea’s other international partners.

“The United Nations will continue to support national reconciliation, peace building and development efforts in Guinea,” the statement added.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36944&Cr=Guinea&Cr1=