News / Africa

Niger Postpones Elections

TEXT SIZE - +

Niger's electoral commission has postponed local and regional elections scheduled for Saturday by three days, citing logistical problems.  

Niger's electoral commission says the country will now hold its municipal and regional elections on Tuesday, instead of Saturday as planned.

Electoral commission president, Abdouramane Goushmane says the commission postponed the elections after it realized that all of the ballots would not be ready in time for the poll Saturday.

The local and regional polls are the first in a series of a elections this month meant to return the country to civilian rule after a military coup in February 2010.

Goushmane said this postponement will not affect the timing of legislative elections and a presidential poll planned for January 31.

Niger has been under military rule since February, when the army overthrew the country's increasingly unpopular leader, President Mamadou Tandja.  The military promised elections within the year. The new constitution, voted on by referendum in October, gives the army until April 6 to restore civilian rule.

You May Like

Video NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates

NASA says half appointees are women, making this highest percentage of female astronauts in one class More

Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage

Illegal clearing of forests by burning is a recurrent problem, particularly during annual dry season that stretches from June to September More

Scandals Hit Obama's Standing With US Voters

Obama's approval rating fell eight percentage points over past month to 45 percent More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Egyptian Support for Syrian Opposition is Words Over Action

Egypt has further aligned itself with those trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But as VOA's Elizabeth Arrott reports from Cairo, it remains unclear how far Egypt will back its words with action.