CNE confirms opposition victories

Electoral officials in Guinea-Bissau have confirmed the victories of opposition parties in legislative elections and in the first round of presidential voting, LUSA reported on Friday. The Commissao Nacional de Eleccioes (CNE) announced final results of the 28 November ballot on Thursday giving the Partido da Renovacao Social (PRS) of presidential front runner Kumba Yala 38 seats in the 102-member legislature, followed by 28 for the Resistencia da Guinea-Bissau (RGB). The traditionally dominant Partido Africano da Independencia da Guinea e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), the group that led Guinea-Bissau to independence from Portugal, came third with 24 seats, according to LUSA. The interim president Malam Bacai Sanha of the PAIGC came second in the presidential vote with 23.4 percent and will face Yala, who got 38.8 percent, in a second presidential round expected to take place in January, the CNE said. International election observers and the CNE both declared the elections free and fair.