Workers at the centre for monitoring election violence have been flooded with complaints during the final days of the election campaign, before voting is held for local councils in five provinces. The number of violent incidents between supporters of the competing political parties appears to be increasing, and now even the independent monitors themselves say they are under threat. Reuters on April 5 also had coverage of the pre-election violence here. Reuters on April 4 reported that Missouri Tuesday becomes the first state to put to popular vote the contentious issue of concealed pistols. Groups on both sides of the issue hope to use the Missouri vote outcome to further their cause across the country.
Polls show the Missouri vote close, with one recent poll giving the gun lobby a slight edge.
Agence France-Presse on April 2 reported that the opposition to General Mathieu Kerekou, the head of state, has won a majority in the national assembly in general elections in the west African state of Benin, according to results given by an independent national election commission Friday. With results still outstanding in only one constituency in the east of the country, the opposition led by former president Nicephore Soglo's Renaissance of Benin was expected to have 42 or 43 seats compared to 40 or 41 for the presidential camp in the 83-seat National Assembly. Umno Information Chief Datuk Dr Yusof Noor said Umno would strive to deal with allegations by PAS in its campaign in Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu. The BBC on April 4 reported that the wife of sacked Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has launched a new political party to fight elections due within a year. A speech was read out on behalf of Mr Anwar who is in jail awaiting a verdict on four charges of misuse of power.