'Yes' scores 93% in C.Africa constitutional referendum: results

Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - Voters have overwhelmingly backed a constitutional referendum in the troubled Central African Republic, with 93 percent in favour of the reforms, electoral officials said Monday, citing provisional results.

The country's proposed new constitution would limit presidential tenure to two terms, fight institutional corruption and rein in the armed militias.

If adopted, it would usher in the sixth republic since independence from France in 1960 and mark the 13th political regime in a country notorious for its chronic instability.

Turnout was only 38 percent in the December 13-14 vote, said Marie Madeleine N'kouet Hoornaert, president of the National Elections Authority.

The results came just days before the country goes back to the polls for parliamentary and presidential elections on Sunday.

Hoornaert complained that the result tally had been slowed by the poor condition of electoral papers coming from some polling stations.

Results for the capital Bangui were known December 17, with 90 percent in favour and a turnout of 30 percent.

The poor former French colony is trying to get back on its feet since being plunged into conflict after a mainly Muslim rebellion overthrew longtime Christian leader Francois Bozize, in 2013.

Violence marred the balloting, with five people killed and 20 injured on December 13 in an attack in the flashpoint Muslim-majority PK-5 district of Bangui.

The violence has been attributed to a faction of the Muslim ex-Seleka rebellion that overthrew Bozize.

A second day of voting was held in the PK-5 district under the protection of UN peacekeepers and French soldiers.