Secretary-General Urges ‘Utmost Restraint’ after Postponement

 

of Guinea Poll, while Warning against Violence, Incitement

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General takes note of the decision by Guinean authorities to postpone, due to technical reasons, the second round of the country’s presidential elections that were scheduled to take place on 19 September 2010.  He calls upon the country’s authorities to quickly address the outstanding technical and logistical challenges in order to create the conditions necessary for the holding of transparent and credible elections as soon as possible.  He warns those who may attempt to disrupt an orderly and peaceful transition that they would be held accountable by Guineans and by the international community as a whole.

The Secretary-General further calls upon all Guineans to exercise utmost restraint during the electoral campaign and to refrain from all acts of violence or incitement.  The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Said Djinnit, is actively engaged with national, regional and other international actors to help Guinea create a conducive atmosphere for the completion of the electoral process in a timely and peaceful manner.

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For information media • not an official record