"ECOWAS will apply zero tolerance to any acts of violence in the electoral process. Over the past twelve months, the community has been closely monitoring events in the country.

"ECOWAS has dispatched a sixty member observer mission to the country to continue monitoring the process to its successful conclusion," the statement said.

Dr. Ibn Chambers emphasised that, "it is the expectation of ECOWAS that the government will continue to create the necessary enabling environment for the National Electoral Commission, the security apparatus and all bodies charged with the conduct of the elections to ensure a level playing field for free, transparent and credible elections that meet the standards set by the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the international community."

"I also wish to draw the attention of the political parties and their candidates to your responsibilities, collectively and individually for the conduct of credible elections devoid of violence and rancour and to use exclusively peace and constitutional means to resolve disagreements in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity."

"ECOWAS, through ECOMOG, played a major role in bringing to an end to the eleven year war that engulfed Sierra Leone which explains why the Commission in Abuja is concerned about the August 11 elections as the President of the ECOWAS Commission prays for a peaceful outcome of the elections in Sierra Leone," the statement added.