Despite the postponement of the first round of presidential elections, UN officials have expressed hope that the electoral process will be completed before the mandate of the UN mission to the country, MINURCA, expires on 15 November. The postponement of the election, which the opposition has been demanding as a result of problems with logistical preparations for the poll, was announced on Thursday by the Mixed and Independent Electoral Commission. The first round was rescheduled from 29 August to 12 September and the second, should it be required, to 3 October.
A UN press release said it was important to hold the elections before MINURCA's mandate ended because the mission was to play an important supporting role, as it had during legislative elections last year, in addition to maintaining and enhancing security and stability during an increasingly tense period for the country. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would be reporting to the Security Council on the situation by the end of September, the statement added.
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