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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
RWANDA: Provisional results show large majority favours new constitution
NAIROBI, 27 May 2003 (IRIN) - Partial results from Monday's referendum on a new constitution indicated it had been approved by 97 percent of the electorate, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported.
RNA quoted on Tuesday the president of the national electoral commission, Chrysologue Karangwa, as congratulating Rwandans for the huge turnout and expressing satisfaction "for the smooth running of the ballot at home and in embassies abroad".
RNA said the partial results indicated a turnout at home of about 95 percent.
The new constitution is designed to prevent a repeat of the 1994 genocide in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by extremist Hutus, by making sure that no one party assumes dominance. In 1994, the Hutu government then in power was blamed for orchestrating the genocide.
EU observers who monitored the referendum will give their verdict on the poll on Thursday, news agenices reported.
President Paul Kagame has indicated that once the constitution is approved, parliamentary and presidential elections could follow as soon as July.
Themes: (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Governance
[ENDS]
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