Opposition unhappy with election organisation

Candidates challenging incumbent President Ange-Felix Patasse in the 12 September elections have issued a joint complaint about the "hasty organisation" of the polls, news agencies said on Monday. "The disregard of the normal arrangements could make it impossible to hold transparent and credible elections, allowing [Patasse] to impose his re-election in a fraudulent matter," the nine candidates said in a statement quoted by AFP. The statement cited "irregularities" by the electoral commission, including the late distribution of voting cards and electoral lists. A second round of voting is scheduled for 3 October.