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South Sudanese Call for Voting Extension

   VOA News 12 April 2010

   Former  southern  rebels  in Sudan have urged the government to extend
   elections  from  three to seven days because of delays and problems at
   voting centers.
   Officials  of  the  Sudan  People's  Liberation  Movement, the south's
   dominant  party,  issued  their  call after the first day of voting on
   Sunday.

   The balloting was calm but election monitors say many polling stations
   opened late, used incorrect ballots, and had trouble finding people on
   the register.
   Problems  seemed to be worse in the south, where some polling stations
   had yet to receive voting materials by Monday morning.
   In many areas, voting Sunday was smooth, but even there, observers say
   people   were   confused   by  the  multiple  ballots  for  president,
   parliament, and state and regional races.
   These are Sudan's first multi-party elections since 1986, and for many
   people, their first time voting.
   Several   parties   are  either  fully  or  partially  boycotting  the
   elections,  saying  President  Omar  al-Bashir and the ruling National