Military

DATE=03/28/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-314537

TITLE=GUINEA BISSAU / ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=CARRIE GIARDINO

DATELINE=ABIDJAN

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Guinea-Bissau is holding legislative elections Sunday, just six-months after a bloodless military coup removed its former president Kumba Yala from office. Carrie Giardino reports from Abidjan.

TEXT: Elections are being held to replace an interim government known as the National Transitional Council, which was put into place last September, a day after the coup in Guinea-Bissau.

Almost a year before being removed from power, Mr. Yala had effectively dissolved the parliament after a disagreement with his prime minister. He then delayed elections several times, but now a new National Assembly made up of 102 members will be established.

Some polling centers in the capital, Bissau, scheduled to open at 7:00 AM had to delay the voting for almost three hours because election officials and voting materials had not arrived. Many of the 600-thousand registered voters began lining up to vote as early as 5:00 AM.

The majority of the population in Guinea-Bissau survives on less than one dollar a day, and has suffered from increased poverty levels since a civil war ended there six-years ago. The war destroyed what little infrastructure existed, and many people are short of food.

The international community and local residents view these elections as a potential turning-point for the country's economy.

International organizations are helping monitor the election, to ensure it is free and fair. France donated just more than 600-thousand dollars to help facilitate the voting. (SIGNED)

NEB/CG/AWP/RAE