CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Security Council urges electoral cooperation

The UN Security Council has urged the government of the Central African Republic and political parties to come together and finalise preparations for the forthcoming presidential elections. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Security Council President Alain Dejammet said all sides in the CAR should "resume negotiations for an acceptable compromise on the organisation and functioning of the mixed and independent electoral commission". UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan last week told the Council that while intense distrust remained among the country's political leaders, there had been progress with regard to preparations for the elections, scheduled for August and September. The Council urged the government of President Ange-Felix Patasse to continue restructuring the armed forces and pursue the implementation of political, social and security reforms. The UN mission in the country, deployed since 1998 to guide the country to peace after a spate of army mutinies, has already helped in the conduct of national assembly elections in which government and opposition parties won almost equal representation.