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| - Benin President Patrice Talon on Friday promised a "KO" first-round victory in Sunday's election that opponents say is already rigged after his main rivals were disqualified from running. The election buildup was marked by protests in opposition strongholds, and on Friday a second person died a day after troops opened fire to break up a protest in the central Benin city of Save. Talon, a cotton magnate first elected in 2016, faces off against two little-known rivals, Alassane Soumanou and Corentin Kohoue. He is expected to easily win a second term, with most of his main opponents exiled or sidelined. "For our country, our harmony and the country's outside image, we must turn out to vote," Talon told supporters at his last campaign stop outside Cotonou. He said he expected a "KO" -- a knockout victory for which there would be no need for a runoff vote. Benin was long praised as a thriving multi-party democracy in often troubled West Africa, but critics say Talon has steered the country into authoritarianism with a steady crackdown on his opponents. On Thursday, troops fired tear gas and live rounds in the air to break up protesters who had blocked a major highway in the central city of Save. Officials had reported at least one person killed and at least five wounded by gunfire. "One of those wounded by bullets has died this morning. So the toll is now two dead and five wounded," Save city mayor Denis Oba Chabi told AFP. "The situation is calm and youths have not erected any new barricades, and after negotiations the military has returned to the barracks." Most of Benin's opposition leaders are in exile, have been disqualified by electoral reforms or targeted for investigation by a special court critics say Talon has used as a political tool. A government spokesman Alain Orounla said on Thursday security forces were attacked by "drugged and armed" youths and had responded when they came under fire. The US, German, French and Dutch embassies as well as the EU delegation in Benin all called on Friday for calm and for the vote to go ahead in a free and transparent manner. "We urge all parties to express their perspectives peacefully," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. "We urge the electoral institutions and courts overseeing these processes and verifying these results to ensure these elections are conducted freely, fairly, and transparently." Results are expected to be announced on Monday or Tuesday. One opposition leader Reckya Madougou was detained last month on accusations of plotting to disrupt the election with terrorism, a charge her lawyer says is fabricated. A judge from the special court created by Talon also fled the country this week after denouncing political pressure to make rulings against opponents, including the decision to detain Madougou. bur/ri
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