- Title: SUDAN: Delays continue to hamper the second day of voting
- Date: 13th April 2010
- Summary: KHARTOUM, SUDAN (APRIL 12, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION BILLBOARD SHOWING PRESIDENT OMAR HASSAN AL-BASHIR NEAR THE POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF WOMEN SITTING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF PEOPLE VOTING INSIDE, ELECTION OFFICIALS CHECKING PAPERS VARIOUS OF WOMAN DIPPING HER FINGER IN INK VARIOUS MORE OF ACTIVITY INSIDE POLLING STATION, WOMEN CASTING BALLOTS VARIOUS OF WOMAN VOTING WITH SMALL CHILD IN HER ARMS VARIOUS MORE OF WOMEN VOTING VARIOUS OF MEN SEATED OUTSIDE POLLING STATION WAITING TO VOTE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE WAITING TO VOTE, UNIFORMED SECURITY LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHARTOUM RESIDENT MOHAMED HASSAN, SAYING: "There are many problems and difficulties especially regarding the names. The work could be better and more efficient and more relaxing for people, my call is to the commissioner in charge of co-ordination, they have to do their job because there is nothing." MORE OF MEN AND WOMEN SITTING IN SEPARATE GROUPS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHARTOUM RESIDENT FATMA ABDALLAH, SAYING: "We thank god the elections are so organised. This is what I hoped for since the peace agreement was signed and the bloodshed stopped. We want peace and we hope that the Sudanese people will live in peace and get the benefit of all the resources in Sudan, because this country has resources that do not exist in other countries." MORE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 29th April 2010 02:07
- Keywords:
- Location: Sudan
- Country: Sudan
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6ENDU240O1P07Q5OKJ6587NXT
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Confusion, delays and charges of fraud on Monday (April 12) marked the second day of Sudan's first multi-party elections in a quarter-century, a vote that will test the fragile unity of Africa's biggest country.
The results are widely expected to keep Sudan's two most influential men in power. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for allegedly planning war crimes in the western Darfur region, and Silva Kiir, who leads largely autonomous south Sudan.
Across the country, long queues continued at polling stations with more people calling for extension of the days they can vote.
Would-be voters lined up in the morning in Khartoum, where police were out in force on unusually quiet streets. Many voters were hindered by delays in getting ballots to polling stations, ballot mix-ups and names missing from the electoral roll.
"There are many problems and difficulties especially regarding the names. The work could be better and more efficient and more relaxing for people, my call is to the commissioner in charge of co-ordination, they have to do their job because there is nothing," said Khartoum resident Mohamed Hassan.
More people came out to vote on the second day as they want to make their votes count while choosing a national president, a leader of south Sudan, national and local parliaments, and governors of all but one of the country's 25 states.
Many Sudanese voted for the first time, grappling with a complex polling process that included eight ballot papers in the north, and a dozen in the south.
Inspite of the logistical difficulties, many voters were grateful for the opportunity to vote and hoped for a more peaceful future for their country.
"We thank god the elections are so organised. This is what I hoped for since the peace agreement was signed and the bloodshed stopped. We want peace and we hope that the Sudanese people will live in peace and get the benefit of all the resources in Sudan, because this country has resources that do not exist in other countries," said Khartoum resident Fatma Abdallah.
The three-day election is a key indicator of whether Sudan can avoid more conflict and humanitarian crises as it heads toward a 2011 referendum that could bring independence for the oil-producing south. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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