Guinea-Bissau votes in key poll

Some 200 international observers are monitoring the election

The people of Guinea-Bissau have voted to elect a president in an effort to restore stability to the impoverished, coup-prone west African state.

Among the 13 candidates are two former presidents, including Kumba Yala, who was deposed in a bloodless coup in September 2003.

His government was replaced by a civil administration headed by interim President Henrique Rosa.

Correspondents say campaigning for the election has been lively but orderly.

'Stability'

Long lines formed in several districts of the capital outside polling stations which opened at around 0730 GMT.

Sunday's vote aims to build on the March 2004 parliamentary elections, which were praised as "free, fair and transparent".

The three main candidates are Mr Yala, Joao Bernardo Vieira, also a former president, and Malam Bacai Sanha of the governing African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

Both Mr Yala, who still considers himself as the legal head of state, and Mr Vieira, who ruled the country for almost 19 years, were allowed to stand in the election after being previously barred.

"We're just looking for a president who can bring stability," bank employee Jaime Cabral, 44, told the AP news agency.

"Without peace and stability, foreigners with money will never come to our poor country."

Decades of instability have made Guinea-Bissau one of the world's poorest countries.

According to the UN, 80% of its population lives on less than $2 (£1.60) a day.

The next leader of this former Portuguese colony of 1.4 million people will have have to find a way of reviving the sluggish economy centred on cashew-nut production.

The vote is being monitored by some 200 observers from the US, the EU and west African states.