As published by THE GUARDIAN few hours ago.. Mixed reaction to ZEC move on Zanzibar polls US urges electoral commission to rescind annulment order
The United States has called upon the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reconsider the decision to nullify the results of the Zanzibar presidential election, saying the poll was held in an orderly and peaceful manner as declared by observers. ZEC chairman Jecha Salum Jecha A terse statement issued by the US Embassy in Dar es Salam yesterday says the United States government was “gravely alarmed” by the ZEC’s chairman’s announcement of an intention to nullify the results. ZEC made the announcement, citing what it described as a number of shortfalls in the conduct of the poll that had also contributed to delay in the compilation and announcement of the results. “This action (announcement of cancellation of the poll results) halted an orderly and peaceful election, as evaluated by observer missions from the US Embassy, European Union, Commonwealth, and Southern Africa Development Community, and a tabulation...