EU welcomes Guinea Bissau vote as step toward stability

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union welcomed Tuesday the peaceful conduct of weekend elections in Guinea Bissau as a key step toward building democracy and political stability.

Sunday's parliamentary polls, for which results are due in coming days, "constitute a very important step towards the consolidation of democracy and political stability," said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel.

"I sincerely encourage the authorities and population ... to build on the positive outcome of the elections and to continue contributing with full confidence to the consolidation of a stable, peaceful and democratic country."

Michel reiterated the EU's backing and said that the bloc "will remain totally committed to sustain Guinea Bissau in its reform process and sustained development goals."

More than 150 international observers, including around 50 from the EU, monitored the election for 100 deputies in the former Portuguese colony of 1.3 million people.

The poll was seen as a crucial step in rebuilding the country a decade after it was torn apart by civil war in 1998 and 1999. Guinea Bissau has been plagued by a series of bloody coups and uprisings as well.

The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which has been dominant since independence from Portugal in 1974, is favourite to win.