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Central African Republic President's Election Win Confirmed

VOA News

   Central African Republic President Faustin-ArchangeTouaderais
   officially beginning his second term Tuesday, a dayafter
   theConstitutional Court confirmed his election victory last month.

   The country's highest court saidtheturnout was suppressed by armed
   groups, which impactedvoters'ability to cast their ballots.

   Following the court's announcement, PresidentTouaderasaid heis willing
   tohavetalks with those wishing to work toward peace andthedevelopment
   of the impoverished country, but not with those who want to drag
   Central African Republic into blind violence, addingjustice will deal
   with them.

   Opposition candidates angered overTouadera'swinsaythe election was rife
   with fraud andirregularities.

   The Constitutional Court ruled those claims werenot legitimate, but
   thathas notstoppedthe violence.

   The rebels,protestingTouadera'sre-election on Dec. 27,attempted to
   overtake the capital,Bangui,justlast week.

   Now,Touadera'sability to quell the violenceandbeginworking on
   hisadministration'sagendamayhingelargely on the helphe relies on
   fromU.N.peacekeeping forces and military support from Russia and
   Rwanda.

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