Sierra Leone votes in watershed elections

By Rod MacJohnson

FREETOWN, Saturday, 2007 (AFP) – Sierra Leone voted today in watershed presidential and parliamentary elections seen as a test of whether the west African nation has turned a page from its decade-long civil war fuelled by blood diamonds. Long queues of voters started forming as early as two hours before polling stations officially opened at 7:00 am (0700 GMT), although many of the 6,171 polling stations reported some delays in opening. Polls are set to close at 5:00 pm (1700 GMT).

Some 2.6 million registered voters will pick a new president and lawmakers, six years after the end of a brutal civil conflict. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who led the country for two five-year terms during and after the war, is not eligible to stand again and has backed his vice president.

Seven political parties are fielding candidates, but the real battle is between the two main parties that have ruled the country the longest since independence from Britain in 1961.