Benin finally votes for president

COTONOU, Benin -- Delayed presidential elections are under way in Benin in a contest that has tarnished the country's reputation for democracy.

The run-off is between incumbent Mathieu Kerekou and Planning Minister Bruno Amoussou who has made it clear that he is only standing to avert a constitutional crisis.

"I do not want to be in any way associated with a strategy threatening the democratic process," he said after announcing his candidature on Tuesday.

"I am just asking you to choose which of us you think will be in a better position to take the reins of the country for the next five years," he said during an election campaign that lasted for only a few hours.

ELECTION WATCH Benin presidential elections

First-round winner Kerekou was to have faced off against second-placed Nicephone Soglo, a long-time rival and former president.

But Soglo pulled out after election authorities refused to re-run the first round, which he said was riddled with fraud.

Voting delays

Adrien Houngbedji, the third-placed candidate, also declined to stand, leaving Amoussou who won 8.59 percent in the first round and had already thrown his weight behind Kerekou, to step in.

Nine of the 25 members of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission stepped down in protest at what they called a lack of transparency, both in the way the commission is run and in the presidential election.

Analysts said the resignations were a serious blow to the poll's credibility but would not obstruct Thursday's elections.

Polling stations in the main city Cotonou opened after slight delays in some places, although there appeared to be fewer voters queuing after the 7.00 am (0600 GMT) start than during the March 4 first round.

Supporters of Soglo and Houngbedji have called for a boycott of Thursday's poll. "As far as we are concerned there is no election," a spokesperson for Soglo said.

Kerekou has accused the opposition of trying to destabilise Benin's political system. The current president seized power in a coup in 1972, stepped down in 1991 following his defeat by Soglo but won back the presidency in 1996.

Polls close in Benin presidential contest, run-off expected
March 4, 2001

Benin election information
Profiles of election candidates

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