Sierra Leone votes for prosperity

FREETOWN (AFP) - Voters flocked to the polls in Sierra Leone Saturday in a presidential vote that will see the winning party handed stewardship of a lucrative mining boom a decade after the end of the country's devastating civil war.

Turnout was reported to be high in the ballot, seen as a test of the nation's recovery following an 11-year conflict that left 120,000 dead and many mutilated by rebels who hacked off hands and feet.

Polling stations closed at 1700 GMT after a peaceful day of voting praised by observers despite a few glitches such as some voting stations opening late. Anyone queuing would be allowed to cast their vote, officials said.

"The theme of this election is the fears that have been expressed to us by the people of Sierra Leone about a return to violence," said Richard Howitt, head of a European Union observer mission, adding that turnout seemed to be on the high side.

"So far we've seen a relaxed atmosphere with people happy to be taking part in voting and a peaceful election," he said.

The vote has been seen as a tight race between incumbent President Ernest Koroma and his main challenger Julius Maada Bio.

The winning presidential candidate will have to secure 55 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off. Final results are due on November 26 and any second round would take place on December 8.

Koroma expressed satisfaction with the process after voting at the Goderich polling station in the west of the capital.

"I am assured of victory and I believe the people of Sierra Leone will (put) their confidence in me for another five years," the 59-year-old said in a brief statement after voting.

Bio voted earlier and also declared himself confident of victory.

A decade after the end of a war synonymous with feared rebel leaders armed by the sale of "blood diamonds", Sierra Leone has become accustomed to peace.

Now the concerns of most voters focus on development, prosperity, improved access to education and health care and better employment opportunities.

"I am quite satisfied with development and progress in the country. He (Koroma) is trying. He has to do more, it doesn't take (only) five years to change a whole country," said Femi Turner, 62, a building contractor.

"I would like to see more development... good health care, good education."

Grandmother Nancy Bameh, 54, preferred to throw her lot in with Bio, hoping he will bring more than just "cosmetic" development to the hillside community of Red Pump where she lives without water or sanitation.

"Red Pump is a very difficult community, there is so much illiteracy here," she said. "That is why I woke up at 3 am to vote for changes. Look at my children, my grandchildren. No money, no food. So we need changes."

While still one of the world's poorest countries, Sierra Leone is rich in mineral resources and massive iron-ore stores are expected to add 21 percent growth this year to its $2.2 billion (1.7 billion euro) gross domestic product, the International Monetary Fund estimates.

However, the country has one of Africa's lowest life expectancies at 47 years according to the World Bank, and highest rates of maternal mortality. Youth unemployment levels hover at 60 percent.

Koroma of the All People's Congress (APC) is seen as the favourite to win, but only by a slim margin. He has been praised for the infrastructure boom, although his detractors say it has been marred by rampant corruption.

Despite a past as a putschist who briefly held power in 1996, his rival Bio, 48, has amassed significant support and the vote is likely to go to a run-off.

Due to his stint in the country's top seat during which he handed power to a democratically elected government, Bio has sold himself as the nation's "Father of Democracy". He has warned he will not accept a "dirty election".