Alpha Conde Guinea's president has urged party leaders to accept the results of September 28 legislative polls, as security was ramped up in the capital amid fears of violence,saying it was the dawn of democracy in the chronically unstable West African nation.

   But the opposition has already complained of rigging during the election, which was meant to turn the page on a protracted transitional period.

   Full provisional results had been due for release yesterday, but officials said tally sheets were still being transported from polling stations on Tuesday.

  In a speech marking the 55th anniversary of Guinea’s independence from France,  Conde said  “I would like to say how proud I am... of your amazing mobilisation to make these legislative polls a real success,” The election “has allowed us to take another step on the path to democracy,” the 75-year-old leader said.

   The top UN official in West Africa, Said Djinnit, also warned against any attempt to challenge the impending results in the street.

   He urged “political parties to respect the verdict of the ballot box and... resort to legal means to settle any dispute that might arise from the polls.”

   But police and military reinforcements were clearly visible yesterday on the streets of Conakry, with barricades erected around the headquarters of the electoral commission.

   Shops and market stalls remained shut in the tense atmosphere, even more than would usually be expected on the independence day bank holiday.

   “I urge all political party leaders to follow the example of the people and acknowledge with the same maturity the results of the legislative vote,” he said at independence celebrations held in the southeastern town of N’Zerekore.