By Our Staff Writer

20^th Sept 2010

The UN Security Council has called on authorities in Guinea to quickly name a new date for the postponed general election run-off.

“…Members of the Security Council regretted the postponement of the second round of the presidential elections and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to set a new date and organize it as soon as possible”, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan of Turkey which holds the Council Presidency this month said in a statement to the press.

The second round of Guinea’s presidential polls was originally scheduled for Sunday 19^th Sept but electoral authorities in Guinea decided to delay the run-off because of what they said were “technical reasons”.

The head of Guinea’s electoral commission apparently died on Monday last week after he had been convicted of falsifying results in the first round of the presidential ballot held in June.  The Security Council also stressed the importance of ensuring a peaceful, free and fair electoral process in Guinea as “…the only way to re-establish the constitutional and democratic order”.

The statement followed a closed-door meeting of the Council on the latest developments in Guinea where violent clashes in the capital Conakry have claimed at least one life and injured dozens of others.

Council members expressed their deep concern at the clashes and called on the Guinean authorities to promote a calm and peaceful electoral environment.  They also urged the supporters of the two presidential candidates to refrain from any provocation, incitement to hatred, or recourse to violence.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit called on the authorities in Guinea to swiftly resolve all technical and logistical obstacles “…to create the conditions necessary for the holding of transparent and credible elections as soon as possible”. END. If is Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent.  Never miss out again!