Election went "very well" - UN

Presidential elections took place on Sunday without significant problem or incidents reported, UN Special Representative Oluyemi Adeniji told IRIN on Monday. "It went very well. The turn-out was good and people were organised and calm" he said. Voter turnout in Bangui was estimated at between 55-60 percent, but estimates for the rest of the country were not yet available. "At least from what we saw in Bangui and what has been reported to us so far from other areas, there were no major accusations of vote tampering and one can say the election was free and fair," Adeniji said. There were "minor problems", including delays in the opening of polling stations and shortages of electoral materials in some areas, which were "immediately corrected," Adeniji said. In a few isolated areas where rains prevented the delivery of electoral materials in time for Sunday's election, voting took place on Monday instead, he said. Some 1.6 million people were registered to vote in the election, in which nine candidates are challenging incumbent President Ange-Felix Patasse for a six-year term. Troops from the UN Mission in the CAR (MINURCA) and over 200 international observers were deployed throughout the country in support of the election. Results are expected by 3 October. If required, a second round of voting will be held on 10 October.