Central African Republic candidates call for halt to vote count, claiming fraud

BANGUI, Central African Republic(AP) _ About two-thirds of the 30 presidential candidates in Central African Republic’s election have called on authorities to stop counting the vote, alleging fraud.

Some 20 candidates made the demand at a news conference Monday, after nearly 40 per cent of the country’s vote had been counted.

Central African Republic citizens voted Dec. 30 in much-delayed national elections meant to bring stability after years of sectarian violence.

The candidates say the electoral process was marred by fraud, and the population will question the results. They said a new solution should be found.

More than 1.8 million people were registered to vote at more than 500 polling stations nationwide that were secured by U.N. peacekeepers and national security forces.

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