Benin goes to the polls

Parliamentary elections are underway in Benin where the governing party
hopes to win a majority in the parliament.
President Mathieu Kerekou's Union for the Future of Benin (UBF)
currently holds 41 seats against the opposition's 42.

The lack of a clear majority has delayed the passage of legislation and
led to endless horse-trading at the parliament every time a bill is
voted upon.

The UBF party did well in local elections in December and January.

It is being challenged by the Renaissance of Benin and the Party for
Democratic Renewal.

Allegations

The opposition has accused the ruling party of intimidating their
supporters.

Civilian "anti-fraud brigades" organised by the opposition have been
banned by the government who say they might create disorder.

It seems like they're trying to intimidate us, since there's no law
against the presence of the public near the voting booths
Guy Ossito
"It seems like they're trying to intimidate us, since there's no law
against the presence of the public near the voting booths," said Guy
Ossito Midiohouan, spokesman of the main opposition Benin Renaissance
party.

More than 1,000 candidates from 14 parties are running for the 83 seats
of the single-chamber parliament.

The authorities have not said when the results will be announced.

Democracy in action

The elections are the fourth to be held since the introduction of party
politics in 1990 when Mr Kerekou, a Marxist coup leader, ceded his
election loss to a political rival.

Voting in the impoverished former French colony of 5.7 million people
usually takes place along regional lines.

The political centre and main port Cotonou is the stronghold of former
president and opposition leader Nicephore Soglo, the city's mayor.

The official capital, Port-Novo, also has a mayor from the opposition,
which traditionally does well in the centre and the south of the
country.

Pro-Kerekou parties tend to perform strongly in the north and the west.

According to Radio France International turn out has been low and there
have been logistical problems.

Story from BBC NEWS:

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