U.N.'s Ban Calls for Calm on Eve of Guinea Elections

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made an urgent appeal for violence-free elections in Guinea on Saturday, one day before voters in the West African country were due to elect a new president.

Ban "deplores recent violence in the country and calls on all national stakeholders to uphold their commitments and ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner that reflects the will of the people of Guinea," his office said in a statement.

"The success of the elections is the responsibility of all concerned," it added.

"In this regard, the secretary-general calls on all political leaders and their supporters to address outstanding areas of disagreement through dialogue and resolve disputes that may arise from the electoral process through legal means."

Tension hung over Guinea after deadly clashes in recent days between supporters of incumbent President Alpha Conde and those backing various opposition leaders.

Sunday's vote is only the second to be held in impoverished Guinea since its first democratic election in 2010.