Annan welcomes high voter turnout for Rwanda presidential elections

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the presidential elections in Rwanda – the first since the genocide of 1994 – as an important step towards the opening of a new democratic era for the country.

A statement issued by a UN spokesman in New York today said the Secretary-General commended the people of Rwanda on the news that the elections had been conducted in a generally peaceful manner with a high voter turnout.

“The Secretary-General considers this election an important step towards the establishment of a pluralistic multi-party democracy in Rwanda,” the statement said, adding that he expressed the hope that the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month will further contribute to that process.