Transitional authorities in the Central African Republic proposed on Thursday delaying the presidential and legislative elections set for this weekend until next week, during a meeting broadcast on national radio.
The authorities suggested delaying Sunday's elections by three days until December 30, citing the preparations for the voting and in particular the need to better train poll workers.
At the meeting were representatives of candidates, political parties, the electoral authority and the international community.
The country's transitional president, Catherine Samba Panza, asked the head of the national elections authority to cite a date if it is necessary to delay the vote.
"The date of December 30 would be better for us," said Marie-Madeleine N'kouet Hoornaert, in charge of organising the vote.
Such a change, however, must receive an exemption from the Constitutional Court, as current law requires all elections be held on Sunday. It was not immediately known when the court could meet on the matter.
The United Nations said a delay would not be a setback for the country.
"I would not characterise it as a setback" for the political process, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
"Given the very delicate security situation in the country it is important that the elections take place in the best possible way."
Dujarric said all the electoral ballots arrived in the capital Bangui on Wednesday, adding that the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA would "proceed with the progressive delivery of the ballots to the provinces."
Already long delayed, the elections are aimed at turning the page on the sectarian conflict that erupted after a mainly Muslim rebellion overthrew longtime Christian leader Francois Bozize in 2013.
Electoral officials said Monday that a constitutional referendum clearing the way for a presidential and parliamentary vote had won 93 percent backing.
Five people were killed and 20 others injured in an attack in the flashpoint Muslim-majority PK-5 district of Bangui during the December 13-14 balloting.
Almost two million Central Africans had registered to vote in the referendum, from a population of 4.8 million -- a clear sign of a widespread desire to return to a life of peace and normalcy.
But turnout was only 38 percent, with many of the polling stations located in remote areas accessible only by dirt roads and many of the 460,000 people displaced by the unrest living in camps along the country's borders.
The referendum came two weeks after Pope Francis paid a high-profile visit to Bangui and appealed to Muslims and Christians to live as "brothers and sisters".
Transitional authorities in the Central African Republic proposed on Thursday delaying the presidential and legislative elections set for this weekend until next week, during a meeting broadcast on national radio.
The authorities suggested delaying Sunday’s elections by three days until December 30, citing the preparations for the voting and in particular the need to better train poll workers.
At the meeting were representatives of candidates, political parties, the electoral authority and the international community.
The country’s transitional president, Catherine Samba Panza, asked the head of the national elections authority to cite a date if it is necessary to delay the vote.
“The date of December 30 would be better for us,” said Marie-Madeleine N’kouet Hoornaert, in charge of organising the vote.
Such a change, however, must receive an exemption from the Constitutional Court, as current law requires all elections be held on Sunday. It was not immediately known when the court could meet on the matter.
The United Nations said a delay would not be a setback for the country.
“I would not characterise it as a setback” for the political process, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“Given the very delicate security situation in the country it is important that the elections take place in the best possible way.”
Dujarric said all the electoral ballots arrived in the capital Bangui on Wednesday, adding that the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA would “proceed with the progressive delivery of the ballots to the provinces.”
Already long delayed, the elections are aimed at turning the page on the sectarian conflict that erupted after a mainly Muslim rebellion overthrew longtime Christian leader Francois Bozize in 2013.
Electoral officials said Monday that a constitutional referendum clearing the way for a presidential and parliamentary vote had won 93 percent backing.
Five people were killed and 20 others injured in an attack in the flashpoint Muslim-majority PK-5 district of Bangui during the December 13-14 balloting.
Almost two million Central Africans had registered to vote in the referendum, from a population of 4.8 million — a clear sign of a widespread desire to return to a life of peace and normalcy.
But turnout was only 38 percent, with many of the polling stations located in remote areas accessible only by dirt roads and many of the 460,000 people displaced by the unrest living in camps along the country’s borders.
The referendum came two weeks after Pope Francis paid a high-profile visit to Bangui and appealed to Muslims and Christians to live as “brothers and sisters”.
