Elections open and transparent, UN says

The local election process, which began on Monday, was judged a success by UN observers of the poll. UNDP Resident Representative Stephen Browne told IRIN today (Wednesday) the observers were free to go where they wanted, and that the elections were open and transparent. He said the observers covered six prefectures, namely Ruhengeri, Butare, Kibungo, Cyangugu, Kigali-ville and Kigali-rural, and noted that the "spontaneity" of the poll meant cases of intimidation could not really occur. Expressing enthusiasm over the process, he said that after initial scepticism, he believed the queuing system of voting, at this stage and this level, was the best way to mobilise a huge number of people. Not only did Rwandans participate directly, they were also "witnessing the democratic process", he told IRIN. The UN would now help the Rwandan authorities consolidate the process, Browne added. Rwandans are today voting to elect officials at "secteur" level, following two days of polling for officials at the lowest "cellule" level in the first post-genocide elections.