2010-03-30
BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic will delay its presidential election by three weeks to May 16, a presidential decree said on Tuesday.

The poll, the first since President Francois Bozize won a five-year term in 2005, had been set for April 25 but donor countries and the electoral commission said a free and fair vote would not be possible by this date.

"The president, following the suggestion of the president of the electoral commission ... orders that presidential and legislative elections will be held on Sunday, May 16, 2010," the decree said.

Earlier this month Bozize accepted opposition calls to push back the election date in the country that holds deposits of gold, uranium and diamonds, but has been bedevilled by internal rebellions that have discouraged large-scale investment.

Bozize, who came to power in a 2003 coup, has held talks with rebels and unarmed challengers, but many insurgent groups continue to operate in the north, close to the border with Chad, while opposition parties have said they fear the election will be rigged.