Brasília, 8/21/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - As part of the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva government's decision to make Africa its foreign policy priority, a technical mission will be going to Guine-Bissau to assist that country with legislative elections scheduled for October 12. Members of Brazil's election board (TSE) will be part of an international team of observers for the election. Guine-Bissau is a member of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries which is getting special attention from the Lula government.

The Brazilian election mission will assist with registration and a census of voters, along with the implantation of rapid, reliable vote-counting mechanisms. (AB)