Preliminary presidential elections in Comoros postponed

The preliminary presidential elections in Comoros which were due on Sunday in the Greater Comoros island was postponed until next Friday after eight of the nine candidates announced their withdrawal as candidates.

News reports quoted Comoros's prime minister Hamadeh Madi Polero who announced the news of the postponement as saying that this decision came as a result of the care to provide clear atmospheres for the voting. The referendum on the constitution of the Greater Comoros island which was also due on Sunday was also postponed.

Meantime, similar referendums have been made since Sunday morning in the two greater islands of Mohelle and Anjoine.

On Satutday evening, nine of the candidates for the Presidency of the federation of Comoros announced their pullout because of accusations made of large falsification operation in favor of the President of Comoros Col. Othman Ghazali. They said that this falsification was discovered also by the UN development program which is in charge of organizing the elections.

The presidential elections in Comoros come following the national reconciliation agreement which was signed in February 2001 between the three islands.

Meanwhile, referendum for the constitution was made in the two islands of Anjoine and Mohelle on Sunday morning. The turnout for the referendum was weak in Anjoine where 93, voters are eligible to vote.