New election body set up

A new cross-party body charged with supervising the forthcoming presidential elections has been established in Bangui in order to guarantee maximum credibility and transparency in the electoral process, news agencies reported. The body will comprise 45 members, drawn from government and opposition parties, and was established at the request of the donor community to supervise the activities of the Independent Joint Electoral Commission in advance of the first round of the presidential contest, scheduled for 29 August. Analysts highlight risk of election-related violence Whoever wins the presidential election faces a huge task in keeping order, given the real danger that political rivals will resort to violence again if they don't like the election result, and especially if they suspect fraud, regional analysts have warned. A report by 'Africa Confidential' received by IRIN on Wednesday said the incumbent, President Ange-Felix Patasse was favourite to win the contest, in which 10 candidates have declared, though probably not in the first round. The elections represent a test that the UN Mission in CAR (MINURCA), which is supervising the poll - and in parallel overseeing the restructuring of the army - cannot afford to fail because it is one of the UN's first attempts at "preventive peace-keeping", the report said.