20100416
africanews

Sudan's general elections took place without major incidents despite reported irregularities and boycotts by opposition parties, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

Sudanese voters wait in line at an outdoor polling station in the village of Dulab in Upper Nile state

Ban welcomed Khartoum's decision to extend the polling, the first in 24 years, from three to five days in order to accommodate delays and logistical challenges. He said the extension allowed more Sudanese to cast votes.

"In the coming days and weeks, the secretary general calls on all political leaders and their supporters to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the peaceful conclusion of the electoral process," a UN statement said.

"Electoral grievances should be addressed through appropriate legal and institutional channels and reviewed in a fair and transparent manner," the statement said.

The UN said Ban welcomed efforts of the "ruling parties" to engage with opposition candidates and parties, including those who boycotted the polls.

"The secretary general encourages all political actors in Sudan to tackle issues in a spirit of dialogue, towards a peaceful electoral outcome and ongoing implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement," the statement said.

The agreement signed in 2005 ended decades of warfare between Khartoum and Southern Sudan. A referendum is scheduled next year to determine the future of that agreement.