CAR elections to go ahead
2004-08-13 17:50
Bangui - The Central African Republic's President Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup last year, vowed in an address to the nation late on Thursday that the country would hold free and fair elections as planned by January next year.
"Free and transparent elections will take place as scheduled," between October and January, Bozize said on national radio, in a speech marking the 44th anniversary of the country's independence from French colonial rule, on August 13, 1960.
"You have long been deprived of your rights," Bozize told listeners, urging them "not to heed... the siren's call of those, here and there, who predict the elections will not take place on time."
"The government, the national transitional council and myself are doing everything to ensure the electoral calendar is adhered to," Bozize added.
"The entire world is watching us now, let us make sure it is not disappointed."
General Bozize, who ousted president Ange-Felix Patasse in a March 2003 coup welcomed by many Central Africans, immediately set up a broad-based transitional government and vowed to restore democracy.
A referendum on a new constitution is due to be held in October, followed by presidential and legislative elections in January 2005.
International creditors had set an April 30 deadline for the adoption of all texts relative to the elections, but several aspects of the political process are lagging behind schedule.
The draft constitution and the electoral code, adopted in June and July respectively, have yet to win final approval from the transitional council, while the law governing political parties has yet to be submitted to the council.
Bozize meanwhile warned his fellow countrymen to "remain vigilant" in the period running up to the elections.
"Because, as we observe every day, these elections are a threat to some, who are already conspiring in the shadows to deprive the Central African people of its legitimate and sovereign right to express itself."
Bozize has vowed to step down at the end of the transitional period, but observers and some independent press commentators believe that he intends to stand for election.