Central African Republic says May 16 election delayed; no new date set for vote

Central African Republic says May 16 vote delayed

BANGUI, Central African Republic — The president of Central African Republic says elections that had been scheduled for May 16 have been delayed.

President Francois Bozize made the announcement on state radio Thursday after meeting political party chiefs, including opposition leaders.

They had insisted the country was not ready to hold the presidential vote because rebels have not been disarmed and voter registration lists are not complete.

No new date for the vote has been announced. The poll was initially set for April 25, then was pushed back to May 16.

The mineral-rich but impoverished country that borders Sudan’s troubled Darfur region has been plagued by military revolts and other uprisings since independence from France in 1960.