Guinea's presidential campaign kicks off

Campaigning kicked off Monday in Guinea's first free presidential election in the west African country's history with parties putting up large portraits of their candidates around the capital.

A small gathering of youths in the streets of Conakry brandished banners and wearing T-shirts bearing the images of leaders of the Rally of Guinean People (RPG) Alpha Conde and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) Cellou Dalein Diallo, who was prime minister between 2004 and 2006.

Posters of a third major contender, Sidya Toure who was prime minister between 1996 and 1999, also went up on the main road.

The country, ruled since independence from France in 1958 by a series of military and civilian dictatorships, goes to the polls on June 27, with a second round planned for July 18.

President Lansane Conte's death in 2008 ended his 24-year military regime, but a military junta led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara swiftly took his place.

Camara was the victim of an assassination bid that left him severely wounded last December, three months after a widely condemned massacre of at least 156 opposition demonstrators by troops in a Conakry stadium.

A transitional regime is being headed by General Sekouba Konate, who is not running in the campaign.