I used to vote with my hands, I did it today with my toe

Lamin Janka Amputee

Nine candidates are standing, including the incumbent President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, and a candidate representing former rebels who have now laid down their weapons.

Until two years ago, Sierra Leone was engulfed in all-out war marked by widespread atrocities against civilians.

But despite some logistical difficulties, police said there had been no incidents of violence on election day.

The BBC's West Africa correspondent, Mark Doyle, in Freetown, said it appeared to have been the most peaceful elections in Sierra Leone's history and the turnout is thought to have been high.

Results are not expected for several days.

Election observers said there were some irregularities, including under-age voting and possible double-voting, but at this stage it was not clear how widespread this was.

The former rebels have pledged to respect the outcome of this election if it is judged free and fair.

Mr Kabbah is standing for re-election against a host of candidates, including Pallo Bangura of the former Revolutionary United Front rebels, who have transformed themselves into a political party, the RUFP.

Other presidential candidates include:

• Ernest Koroma from the former ruling party, the All People's Congress
• Zainab Bangura, the only woman candidate, a civil rights activist whose Movement for Progress is popular among market women
• Johnny Paul Koroma, who ousted Mr Kabbah in a military take-over in 1997, before being toppled by Nigerian troops a year later

The leader of the RUFP, Foday Sankoh, is currently in prison on murder charges and may be prosecuted for war crimes by a special court set up the United Nations and the Sierra Leone Government.

During the war, the RUF mutilated thousands of civilians by hacking off their limbs, noses and ears.

'Peace and love'

Mr Kabbah was one of the first to cast his ballot, in what is usually a nightclub called Rumours. He did not say anything, other than that his vote was secret.

Victims of the war were still wary of the RUF.

Kemoh Sheriff, 28, whose leg was amputated by the rebels, said: "There should be peace and love after the elections.

"I cannot forgive the RUF, but they are our brothers. If you did not allow them to contest, maybe they would have had another agenda and started fighting again."

Ya-Bom Kamara was more forthright.

"I will never forgive them. When they cut off my hands they said 'Go to (President) Kabbah and ask him to give back your hands.' I am voting for Kabbah. Who will vote for the RUF?"

'Fully prepared'

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had sent a message urging people to cast their ballot in the "spirit of peace and tolerance".

There will be a run-off if no candidate receives 55% of the vote

The 17,500-strong UN Mission in Sierra Leone (Unamsil) is the world's biggest peacekeeping operation.

Its troops have also provided support by transporting ballot boxes and conveying regional results back to Freetown.

Polling for the 2.3 million registered voters began closing at 1700GMT and counting got under way.

If no candidate gets 55% of the vote, there will be a run-off between the top two candidates.

Parties must receive at least 12.5% of the vote in order to be represented in parliament.