Burkina Faso polls close

Ouagadougou: Polls have closed in Burkina Faso after a presidential and parliamentary election dominated by the threat of violence that prevented voting in hundreds of villages.

Polling stations were closed yesterday across swathes of the north and east where groups linked to alQaeda and Islamic State operate. Some that had planned to open were shut because of threats, the electoral commission said.

Before election day, official data indicated that at least 400,000 people — nearly 7% of the electorate — were likely to be unable to vote due to polling stations staying shut for fear of violence. — AAP