Maputo — The chairperson of Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE), Joao Leopoldo da Costa, told reporters on Wednesday morning that, as far as he could see, the country's general and provincial elections are proceeding "normally".

He was pleased at the apparently large turnout in Maputo when the polling stations opened at 07.00.

"The turnout is positive", said Costa, "but it's too early to make any judgments. From the information I have received the turnout looks good all over the country".

The only problem he was aware of was that one polling station in Zambezia province did not have its electoral register - but the local branch of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), the executive branch of the CNE, intervened to solve the problem.

A journalist from the Portuguese TV station RTP asked Costa about reports that some foreign observers are traveling in cars of political parties. She did not say which observers were allegedly involved and which parties.

Costa said the CNE believed that any such cases were "sporadic" and would be solved through dialogue. He pointed out that observers should obey the code of conduct for electoral observation.

There have been no reliable reports of international observers showing bias or favouritism or bias towards any of the contending parties, much less accepting lifts from them. International observer missions are not penniless and make their own transport arrangements.

Over a fortnight ago, the Sunday paper "Domingo" published a claim, without citing any sources, that European Union observers had accompanied the motorcade of Daviz Simango, the leader and presidential candidate of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), from Maputo to Xai-Xai, capital of Gaza province. This malicious report was promptly denied by the EU Observer Mission.

Interior Minister Jose Pacheco also said he was satisfied by the early signs of a high turnout, and by the calm and peaceful way voters were queuing up at the polling stations.

"We expect this environment of public tranquility to prevail until the polls close", he said.

Pacheco said the police had been put on a state of alert to ensure that citizens can enjoy their right to vote.

He guaranteed that there will be no disturbances after the announcement of the results. "That won't happen", he pledged. If anyone tried to start a disturbance the police would restore order.

Pacheco believed these were "the best elections" since the country's first multi-party elections in 1994, characterized by a general tolerance between the members of the competing parties.

Most of the offences reported during the election campaign had been limited to tearing down posters of opposing parties, he said.

"In terms of public order and security, the assessment we make is that these may have been the best elections", stressed the Minister.