20110129
reuters

BANGUI (Reuters) - Rivals to Central African Republic leader Francois Bozize pulled their representatives off the election body on Saturday, alleging fraud after early partial results from last weekend's poll put Bozize in the lead.

In the latest African election to run into dispute, candidates cited evidence of ballot-stuffing and irregularities during vote-counting in the former French colony, rich in diamonds, gold and uranium.

"We have already launched legal measures for arbitration and we appeal to the international community to wake up to what is going on in Central African Republic," said ex-president Ange Felix Patasse, one of five candidates in last Sunday's vote.

National radio quoted Guy Samzung, head of the European Union delegation in the country, as saying he raised concerns with Bozize about "imperfections and irregularities".

While no clear figures were available, returns from voting districts in and around the capital Bangui showed Bozize well ahead of Patasse, his nearest rival. Final results could come within days.

Bozize allies brushed off the wave of walk-outs from the cross-party election body, which now only consists of its president and spokesman.

"They are resigning simply because, with partial results in, they have realised how unpopular they are," Bozize's campaign manager Sylvain Ndoutingai told reporters.

The dispute is the latest to highlight problems in Africa's efforts to stage elections.