LUANDA, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Guinea-Bissau's National Elections Commission (CNE) announced on Wednesday that former military ruler Nino Vieira had won a presidential poll held last month, according to reports reaching here from Bissau.

   

Guinea-Bissau's National Elections Commission (CNE) announced on Wednesday that former military ruler Nino Vieira had won a presidential poll held last month. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

 "I proclaim the final results of the July 24 presidential ballot and I declare Joao Bernardo Vieira as the winner," said the head of the commission, Alabji Malam Mane.

    Moments after official results were announced, the head of Vieira's campaign, Helder Proenca said, "the election of Nino Vieira is a victory for peace, for stability and concordance between all Guineans; these were the attributes that he promoted during his entire campaign."

    There was no immediate reaction from Vieira's rival, Malam Bacai Sanha, according to the reports. But the defeated government-backed candidate announced his rejection of the anticipated outcome Tuesday, demanding a ballot recount, and warned that he would appeal to the country's Supreme Court.

    Meanwhile, Malam Mane voiced his concern about the future of the commission he heads up, saying that it needed financial autonomy as well as the administrative autonomy it already enjoys.

    Mane announced the official final results in Bissau, giving Vieira, who was ousted as head of state in 1999, slightly more than 52 percent of the vote to just under 48 percent for Bacai Sanha.

    The final results were in line with contested provisional results announced on July 28. On Tuesday, Bacai Sanha, who had the backing of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Guineaand Cabe Verde party, renewed allegations of "massive fraud," telling a Bissau news conference he would not accept the announcement of final results. Insisting the election had been "stolen," Bacai Sanha reiterated demands for a nationwide recount of ballots.

    He said he would take his case to the Supreme Court. According to Guinea-Bissau's law, Bacai Sanha has 48 hours in which to contest the final election results and the high court another two days in which to issue a ruling.

    The announcement of official final results, which by law shouldhave taken place by last Thursday, were held up by allegations of "massive fraud" lodged by Bacai Sanha and Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior.

    Investigations by the CNE uncovered no significant problems in the voting, declared free and fair by international observers, or in the ballot count.

    Guinea-Bissau lies on the west coast of northern Africa, bordered by Senegal to the north, Guinea to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It includes the island of Bolama and the Bijagos Archipelago.   Enditem