CONAKRY (Reuters) - Polling wound down peacefully in Guinea on Sunday in a landmark election offering voters their first chance to freely choose a leader since the coup-prone West African state won independence from France in 1958.

The United States hailed the poll's conduct and observers said turnout was high in a vote which could help trigger more investment in Guinea's vast mineral resources, unlock more aid to combat poverty and serve as a boost to pro-democracy camps across a region known for coups and tainted votes.

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