São Tomé and Príncipe Opens Parliamentary, Local and Regional Polls

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time on Sunday in São Tomé and Príncipe for parliamentary, local and Príncipe regional elections. Lusa reporters saw few voters at two polling locations in the capital during the early hours. More than 146,000 registered voters are being called to choose members of the National Assembly and local representatives after a record abstention rate in July's presidential election. The European Union election observation mission said it would have around 50 observers in the country on polling day, monitoring voting and the count across the districts and Príncipe.