ANTANANARIVO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The African Union saluted the calmness during Madagascar's run-off presidential election held on Wednesday, head of the African Union Election Observation Mission said Friday during a press conference held in Antananarivo.
"The African Union congratulates Madagascar's government and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) for additional efforts to improve the electoral process," Ramtane Lamamra said.
During the press conference, Ramtane Lamamra also congratulated candidates for this run-off presidential election and politicians who, despite obvious divergence of views on certain aspects of the process, have been able to show restraint.
The AU head of mission encouraged the candidates to choose dialogue and recourse to legal channels for the settlement of all disputes.
On behalf of the AU Election Observation Mission, Ramtane Lamamra also welcomed the strong involvement of women in the electoral process, saying that about 47.8 percent of polling station members, 57.2 percent of candidate representatives and 61 percent of national observers were women.
The African Union sent 35 observers from various member countries. They arrived in Madagascar on December 12 for a stay of 11 days.
