The two candidates vying for the presidency in Sierra Leone's runoff on Saturday did not take part in a joint peace march as they said they would. The march, ordered by President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, was supposed to be a symbol of the nation's unity and commitment against violence, following a pre-runoff period that saw clashes between the rival parties. Kari Barber has more for VOA from Freetown.

But the candidates, for whom the march was arranged, were not present. Berewa did show up at the start, but was not part of the procession.

SLPP communications officer Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie says his party is disappointed that the rally, in which the two candidates were supposed to ride in a car together, did not happen as planned.

SLPP supporter cheers as peace march passes by party headquarters in Freetown, 01 Sep 2007

APC's Koroma announced he would boycott the peace rally because of what he says were violent acts against members of his party and a planned attack against himself by SLPP supporters.

APC member Philip Conteh leads party supporters in a cheer, Freetown, 01 Sep 2007

"A week ago there was a very serious attack on the leadership and by now we should have expected a statement from the police on what they are going to do about that. There are so many other things that these people [SLPP] should have addressed, but failed to address," he said.

Conteh says the party does not believe the SLPP has met the conditions of the peace pact to correct the issues that led to the recent violent outbreaks between the parties, including what APC officials believe was an ambush planned against Koroma when he was traveling to the east to campaign.

Conteh says Koroma does want to bring peace to the war-ravaged country, but he does not think the SLPP's intentions are sincere.

APC followers say they support their candidate's decision not to take part in the joint peace rally

Civil society leaders say they are disappointed in the joint rally, which they say could have been a symbol that the country has moved forward from its violent past and the brutal civil war that ended five years ago, did not take place.

The two candidates had signed an agreement to hold the joint peace march after meeting with President Kabbah on Saturday and Sunday.

Neither candidate won the 55 percent of the vote needed to be elected in the first round.