Off the wire
• 1st LD Writethru: Obama says anti-IS fight continues to be difficult  • Study reveals gene mutation linked to muscle damage, heart problems  • UN launches campaign to help Syrian refugees in Jordan through winter  • New force commander named for UN-AU Mission in Darfur  • S. African market rallies after 3rd finance minister appointed in week  • Turkish Airline to open direct flight between Madagascar and Turkey  • Africa Economy: Africa calls for fair trade practices ahead of WTO meeting  • Urgent: EBRD approves China membership application  • UNDP hails Mozambique's progress in fighting poverty  • British FTSE 100 drops 1.32 pct on Monday  
You are here: 　 Home

Referendum "successful" in majority of CAR: UN official

Xinhua, December 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

A top UN official said here Monday that the Sunday referendum was "held successfully" in the majority of the Central African Republic (CAR) despite some reported localized incidents and intimidation of voters and electoral staff.

The UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, made the remarks while briefing the UN Security Council on the situation in the CAR.

He also said that two peacekeepers were injured in incidents in Bangui and Bria, adding that the actions of a few should not disrupt the hopes and aspirations of many for a successful electoral process.

He said that with only two weeks until the first round of elections, time was of the essence to further contain such attempts by the spoilers.

Ladsous underlined the unprecedented registration of nearly two million voters, representing 95 percent of the estimated electorate, which demonstrates the strong desire for change by the population.

Ladsous said that it was essential to ensure that Central Africans -- whether inside or outside the country -- can cast a vote to elect their future government free of intimidation.

He said that the UN Mission in the country (MINUSCA) and the wider United Nations system will continue to lend their full technical, logistical and security support to enable the Transitional Authorities to achieve these objectives.

On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a "peaceful and credible" referendum in the Central African Republic, saying that the upcoming polls is "a significant milestone towards the end of the transition" in the country.

Heavy fighting erupted on Sunday in a Muslim district in the CAR's capital during a constitutional referendum seen as crucial to restoring stability in the nation riven with violence and division for nearly three years.

The Central African Republic voted in the referendum Sunday on a new constitution in a bid to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections later this month which would lead the country out of chaos.

The referendum is expected to pave the way for presidential and legislative elections on Dec. 27 and for the transitional government to transfer power by the end of March. The polls were delayed several times amid the turmoil.

The new constitution calls for the creation of a Senate, limiting future presidents to two five-year terms in office, and safeguards for religious freedoms.

The fighting began in March 2013 when mainly Muslim rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize. The takeover was marked by the widespread killing of civilians, prompting Christians to set up a rival militia known as anti-balaka. Enditem