Central African Republic votes in polls marred by violence
By Dylan GAMBA and Camille Laffont LISTEN
The polls take place after a week of turbulence. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)
Voters went to the polls on Sunday in the Central African Republic in presidential and legislative elections marred by the latest flare-up in a long-running civil war, with many unable to cast their ballots.
Incumbent Faustin Archange Touadera is the frontrunner in polls that follow a week of turbulence marked by accusations of an attempted coup, rebels briefly seizing the fourth-largest town and Russia and Rwanda dispatching military personnel to help the beleaguered government.
Central Africa Rebel Groups Call Off Cease-Fire Before Election austinglobe.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from austinglobe.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A rebel coalition that has been fighting the government in Central African Republic said it would observe a unilateral ceasefire ahead of coming elections.
A rebel coalition that has been fighting the government in Central African Republic says it will observe a unilateral ceasefire in the runup to elections on Sunday.
C.Africa says Russian, Rwandan troops sent after alleged coup bid Published on Share
The Central African Republic said Monday that Russia and Rwanda had sent in hundreds of troops after an alleged attempted coup ahead of upcoming elections.
Rwanda confirmed soldiers had been deployed under a bilateral agreement, while Russia denied any troops had been sent, although it noted that personnel were there under an accord with the troubled country.
The CAR government accused former president Francois Bozize at the weekend of seeking to foment a putsch by three militias ahead of a general election to be held on December 27.