1.
GV TOWN HALF (ZOOM TO MV PEOPLE OUTSIDE)
0.05

2.
SV MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE
0.08

3.
GV CROWD AT ENTRANCE
0.11

4.
WOMEN VOTERS.
0.12

5.
MV APITHY & WIFE ARRIVE
0.17

6.
STV APITHY & WIFE SURROUNDED BY ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD.
0.24

7.
CU WOMEN VOTERS
0.27

8.
SV INT APITHY PLACES VOTE IN BOX.
0.32

9.
CU APITHY INKS THUMB
0.46

10.
MV WIFE INKS THUMB
0.52

11.
SV WIFE VOTES
1.04

12.
GV EXT APITHY & WIFE THROUGH PASSAGE.
1.12

13.
SV APITHY AND WIFE ACKNOWLEDGE CROWD.
1.21



Initials OJP/VS/JF/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MONSIEUR APITHY, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF DAHOMEY, HAS ALREADY TAKEN A CLEAR LEAD OVER THE OTHER THREE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ACCORDING TO PARTIAL RESULTS FROM THE OUEME REGION. THE ELECTIONS IN DAHOMEY BEGAN YESTERDAY (MONDAY 9), AND WILL CONTINUE FOR THREE WEEKS.

SOUROU-MIGAN APITHY, WHO VOTED WITH HIS WIFE AT PORTO-NOVO, IS DISSATISFIED WITH RESULTS SO FAR AS HE BELIEVES SOME VOTERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED VOTING CARDS. DESPITE THIS, INITIAL COUNTS SHOWED HIM TO BE NEARLY 67 THOUSAND VOTES AHEAD OF HIS NEAREST RIVAL WHO SECURED ONLY EIGHT AND A HALF THOUSAND.

ALL VOTERS ARE REQUIRED TO DIP A THUMB IN SPECIAL INDELIBLE RED INK AFTER CASTING THEIR VOTE. THEY ARE THEN EASILY RECOGNISED IF THEY ATTEMPT TO CAST FURTHER VOTES, ILLEGALLY.

OUEME DISTRICT -- ONE OF SIX ELECTORAL DISTRICTS -- INCLUDES PORTO-NOVO, AND IS AN APITHY STRONG-HOLD. IT WAS THE FIRST DISTRICT TO GO TO THE POLLS. THE REMAINING DISTRICTS WILL VOTE IN TURN UNTIL THE ELECTION CLOSES ON 31ST MARCH.

AT PRESENT THE COUNTRY IS CONTROLLED BY A THREE-MAN DIRECTORATE WHICH CAME INTO POWER AFTER A COUP LAST DECEMBER WHICH DEPOSED THE CIVILIAN PRESIDENT, DR. ZINSOU, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY A FORMER MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN 1968 AFTER ELECTIONS. AT THAT TIME NO CANDIDATE RECEIVED SUFFICIENT VOTES TO BE ELECTED, BUT THIS YEAR THE CANDIDATE WHO TOTALS MOST VOTES FROM ALL DISTRICTS WILL BE HELD DULY ELECTED.

THE THREE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENCY ARE HUBERT MAGA AND DR ZINSOU, ALSO FORMER PRESIDENTS, AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER JUSTINE AHOMADEGBE.