Representatives from the African Union and West Africa's ECOWAS bloc said Tuesday that Guinea's October 18 presidential election was conducted properly, despite opposition figures decrying irregularities. Augustin Matata Ponyo, the African Union's head of mission in Guinea, said in a news conference that "the ballot took place in transparency, security, calm and tranquillity". Jose Maria Neves, the head of the ECOWAS mission, similarly said voting had taken place according to Guinean legislation. lal/eml/pma