Renewed civil unrest cannot be ruled out in a potential volatile period after the upcoming presidential elections, UN Special Representative Oluyemi Adeniji said this week. "It is a concern ... It's the reaction of those who don't win [the elections] that really counts. If those who lose decide to foment trouble, it can be quite serious," Adeniji told IRIN. Ten people - incumbent President Ange-Felix Patasse, six opposition leaders and three independent candidates - are running in the 12 September election, the first since a series of destructive army mutinies in 1996-97 plunged the country into a crisis from which it is still struggling to recover. A second round of voting, if one is required, is scheduled for 3 October. The mandate of MINURCA, the UN peace-keeping mission sent to the CAR in April 1998 to help safeguard a fragile peace, expires on 15 November.
[For additional information, see separate item on 27 August headlined: "Big question mark" for post-election period" - IRIN CEA: 19990827 ]
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