Guinea 'cannot hold elections on June 30': official
CONAKRY (AFP) - An official from Guinea's election commission said Monday that polls set for June 30 were no longer "in the programme" following weeks of deadly protests by opposition activists objecting to the date.
President Alpha Conde's announcement in April of parliamentary elections has been followed by a series of anti-government demonstrations in which dozens have been killed or wounded in the capital Conakry.
"The date of June 30 scheduled for the parliamentary elections in Guinea is no longer in the programme of the Independent National Election Commission (CENI)," said the source, on condition of anonymity.
"I'm not the best person to give you this information but be aware that we cannot hold the elections on June 30, as indicated by the head of state," the source told AFP.
"It is technically impossible. This date was chosen for reasons we do not know, as it was not debated within our organisation but rather a date decided in an irregular manner after a small group among us went to see the president," said the source.
Another source confirmed the commission would not go ahead with a June 30 election, adding that "haste and lack of good faith are the by-words of the CENI".
"As long as we do not understand that we are here for the cause and interest of the nation, we are not going anywhere," the source added.
The poll, postponed several times in the past two years, has become a hot button issue in Guinea as it tries to move on from decades of dictatorship, coups and political violence.
The opposition has threatened to prevent it taking place unless it is delayed and has demanded that the South African company managing the electoral roll is replaced amid suspicions that it is colluding with the government to fix the result.
Opposition activists refused to submit lists of candidates and have organised several marches demanding free and fair elections which have ended in deadly clashes with security forces in recent months.
Dozens have been killed or wounded in escalating violence, according to the government, which is investigating the deaths.
The last legislative elections were held in 2002 under then president Lansana Conte, who ruled the former French colony for 24 years until his death in December 2008, which prompted a disastrous coup marked by extreme police brutality.