Guinea Bissau Vote First Since Coup in Bid For Economic Rebound

Guinea Bissau voters will cast ballots today in presidential and legislative elections in a bid to help restore democracy two years after a coup that thwarted a previous poll and triggered an economic slide in the former Portuguese colony.

As many as 775,500 voters out of a population of 1.6 million will cast ballots in an election that was delayed twice, according to the United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea Bissau. There are 13 presidential candidates, while 15 parties are vying for 102 seats in parliament.