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Cameroon's Ruling Party Scores Landslide Victory in Regional Elections

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Cameroon's ruling party scored a landslide victory
   in the country's first regional elections, winning nine of the
   country's 10 administrative regions. The victory has triggered fears
   the party will not relinquish some powers to regional governments -- a
   promise made to end the ongoing separatist crisis in two western
   regions. Central government officials are promising to reduce their
   grip on power.

   The electoral commission said the CPDM, the party of longtime President
   Paul Biya, won a majority of the seats in nine of the central African
   state's 10 regions. The opposition National Union for Democracy and
   Progess won control of one region. Each region has a council of 70
   seats.