Two thirds of the 30 Central African Republic’s presidential candidates who competed in last week’s elections, are now demanding that authorities halt the vote count.
The aspirants have expressed concern over what they claim to be major electoral irregularities.
About 20 candidates made the demand at a news conference after nearly 40 percent of the country’s votes had been counted. 16 of them signed a declaration, saying the move would prevent unrest.
Results have trickled in slowly but with 40 percent of the vote counted, former Prime minister Faustin Archange Touadera was leading , followed by another former Prime minister, Anicet Georges Dologuele.
Mainly Muslim rebels from a group called the Seleka seized power in the majority Christian nation in early 2013, provoking reprisals from Christian anti-balaka militias and a cycle of religious and inter-communal killings.
Voting took place on 30 December, with UN troops guarding polling stations.
