Central African Republic.

• Position: Peacewatch - Legislative elections

A statement issued on 25 November by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General informed that the first round of the legislative elections in the Central African Republic took place on 22 November without major incidents, as planned. The 109 seats in the Legislative Assembly were contested by over 800 candidates representing more than 30 political parties, and including 107 independent candidates. According to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA), voters turnout appeared to be high, especially in the capital, Bangui, with very few irregularities reported.

In accordance with Security Council resolution 1201 (1998) of 15 October, MINURCA played a crucial role in the delivery of electoral materials, as well as in the maintenance of law and order during the electoral process and in the monitoring of the elections. Some 80 United Nations electoral observers were deployed in Bangui and in all regions of the country for this purpose and covered more than the envisaged 25 per cent of the polling stations in Bangui and in the provinces. Security was provided partially by MINURCA. International observation was also carried out by representatives of the European Union and the Francophonie.

The Council also extended MINURCA's mandate until 28 February 1999, at which time it intended for the Mission to be terminated. By adopting resolution 1201 (1998), the Council decided further that the Mission's mandate should include support for the conduct of legislative elections in the Central African Republic. That support would include, in particular: the transport of electoral materials and equipment to selected sites and to the sous-prefectures, as well as the transport of United Nations electoral observers to and from the electoral sites; the conduct of a limited but reliable international

observation of the first and second rounds of the legislative elections; and ensuring the security of electoral materials and equipment during their transport to and at the selected sites, as well as the security of international electoral observers.

The resolution also approved a plan to provide security for the election process and called on the Central African authorities to provide assistance, including security arrangements that...