afrol News, 30 April - Amadou Toumani Toure, Mali’s incumbent Presidential candidate has reportedly led the polls with comfort, although election officials are still busy counting the results of the weekend’s polls.

Mr Toure has so far polled 60 percent of the counted votes.

Most of the results are yet to be counted. The final results are expected to be declared before the week ends.

A second round vote will be organised if any of the candidates fails to secure 50 percent of the votes.

Both local and international observers hailed the voting as free, transparent and fair because it passed off peacefully unlike Nigeria where the process was marred by several irregularities, including ballot stealing.

Observers however express disappointment over the low turnout, which was the case in the last Presidential polls in 2002.

Ibrahim Baboucar Keita, a key opposition candidate and the President of the National Assembly, blows the whistle against electoral fraud.

But President Toure’s mouthpiece, Kader Maiga, dismisses electoral fraud. He maintains that Malian voters have decided to compensate Mr Toure for his numerous achievements during his first elected term in office when he had improved the lives of Malians, built thousands of homes, made health care accessible, among other development.

“Because the President is ready to accomplish his mission, voters decide to cast their votes for him,” Kader Maiga says.

Some observers say they have been disappointed by the low turnout, which was similar to that of the 2002 presidential elections.

Mr Toure first came to power in 1992 when he overthrew the former Malian dictator, Mousa Traore. After six months in office, he relinquished power to a democratically elected government. In 2002, the former military ruler bounced back to power after winning the elections.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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