Sudan: 19 election observers expelled

  1. Posted on Thursday 15 April 2010 - 10:15
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Election observers were expelled from polling centres in south Sudan in the wake of the national multi-party election, according to the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SUNDE). It said said security forces walked them out at several centres in Juba, the capital of south Sudan on Tuesday.
    SUDAN- political rival to Bashir quits presidential race
    SUNDE accused Sudan’s authorities of "obstruction".

    Nineteen observers were taken from three voting places in Kator South Constituency by unknown security personnel.

    "The observers were taken to the public security office and eventually detained at the police of the public order office near Konyo Konyo market", SUNDE said. They were released on Wednesday, the group said.

    Several local and international missions including the Carter Centre, the European Union, the Arab League, the African Union, Russia, China and Japan are monitoring the elections.

    Former US president Jimmy Carter, who is leading a team of 70 observers, said there are logistical problems but no proven fraud in the general elections in Sudan.

    "We heard of some reports of intimidation of voters, but I'd say the main problems so far have been the lack of materials -- inadequate delivery of proper ballots for certain elections," Carter told AFP.

    "Those are administrative problems but no evidence of fraud so far as I know. But it's still too early to judge the integrity of the entire process," he added.

    Sudan's first national multi-party election in 24 years began on Sunday and will run until Thursday, according to the country's National Election Commission.

    Salah Habib, National Election Commission spokesman said the final results are due on April 20 but it was believed that initial results will come out on Friday.

    Reports say that the country's two most influential men, President Omar al-Bashir, and Salva Kiir, South Sudan leader, will not lose their positions.

    Bashir seized power of the Africa’s largest nation after a bloodless coup in 1989 and elected as president twice in polls.

    The general election is the first multi-party vote since 1986 and it was signed under a 2005 peace deal.

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