As Sierra Leoneans await the final results of their general election held on Saturday, both local and foreign observers have hailed the exercise as "well conducted."

So far, less than 10 percent of the entire elections results have been announced in view of the difficulty in reaching some remote polling centers and it will take at least a week before the

final results are out.

Chief Electoral Commissioner Christiana Thorpe said, however, the final and certified results will be officially announced within 10 days after voting.

Both the ruling All People's Congress (APC) of Ernest Bai Koroma and the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) of Julius Maada Bio have sounded optimistic of victory.

Koroma's APC seems to be on the ascendancy after having made significant inroads in the strongholds of the main opposition SLPP in the south-eastern parts of the country.

Meanwhile, international and local observers have given a "thumbs-up" to the people of Sierra Leone for the way they conducted themselves in the polls on Nov. 17.

The head of the Carter Center team, former Zambian leader Rupia Banda, said the people voted "freely and with enthusiasm", whilst the Commonwealth observer team leader, Olara Otunni, said the "organization and conduct of the elections met international standards.

In their preliminary assessment, the European head of observer, Richard Howitt, described the conduct of the polls on Saturday as "free, peaceful and well conducted".

He praised the National Election Team for the efficiency and peaceful atmosphere that prevailed at the polling centers.

In reaction to a press statement from the SLPP Monday that there was massive election malpractice, the governing APC described this as "consistent with their agenda to discredit the entire process in fear of losing the elections."

In its statement, the APC categorically said that the SLPP statement was "replete with fabricated and baseless story."

The opposition SLPP complained of many election malpractices that had the potential to affect the final results.

Commenting on the issue of violence and intimidation, the APC stated that "there is hardly any report or record anywhere to confirm the SLPP allegations."

Local and International Observers on the ground have commended Sierra Leone for holding the most credible and violence-free elections ever witnessed in the history of the country.

Reports from the capital, Freetown, and other parts of the country say everything is calm and quiet as the people eagerly but patiently await the final results.

Both the two main parties SLPP and APC have called on their supporters to be calm and patient to wait for the final results.