Empty voter booths and election abuses for Mali

A low turnout and vote abuses marred Sunday elections meant to complete the democratic transition in Mali, after a coup last year led to an Islamist takeover of the north that was crushed by French military intervention.


It was not immediately clear who was responsible.


The military putsch plunged Mali into chaos and allowed al-Qaeda-linked fighters to seize the northern two-thirds of the country.


Vote counting began after some 25 000 bureaux across the country closed at 6pm (GMT).

Few ballots
Only a fraction of the 6.7-million people registered to vote appeared to have cast their ballot and there was no sign of the long queues of voters that marked the presidential vote.



Malian soldiers, French troops and UN peacekeepers protected voting station in the north following the resurgence of Islamist violence.



Donors have pledged $3.25-billion to rebuild the impoverished country and develop its lawless desert north.


Universally known by his initials IBK, Keita swept the August 11 presidential runoff with 78% of the vote.


"IBK needs this majority to complete his mission."

Protest in Kidal, gunmen in Goundam
Some 1 087 candidates from 410 electoral lists competed for the 147 seats in Parliament.





Opposition candidates say it has been too dangerous to campaign there.

About 100 supporters of separatist parties staged a march in Kidal's dusty centre to protest against the elections but were prevented from entering voting stations by members of the UN peacekeeping mission, residents said.

Oumou Sall Seck, mayor of the town of Goundam about 65km from the ancient caravan town of Timbuktu, said voting was impossible in five of its communes due to the disappearance of electoral materials or the theft of ballot boxes by armed men.


Officials also reported gunmen taking materials near Lere, 160km southeast of Timbuktu.

France has more than 2 000 troops stationed in Mali but aims to reduce its military presence to 1 000 by February as it hands security responsibilities to the Malian army and the UN force.

The UN mission, launched in July, is still at roughly half its 12 600 planned strength. – Reuters

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