U.N. watching CAR elections

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The first round of presidential elections must be respected by all parties in the Central African Republic, the U.N. secretary-general warned.

President Francois Bozize, who took power in a 2003 coup and was elected in 2005, is facing his predecessor Ange-Felix Patasse, who just returned from exile. Other candidates are former Prime Minister Martin Ziguele, former rebel leader Jean Jacques Demafouth and Gros Raymond Nakombo.

The country has endured a series of coups and dictators since independence from France in 1960 and is one of the poorest in the world.

There were few reports of violence during the vote, though turnout was reportedly high among the country's 1.8 million eligible voters.

The U.N. Security Council in December said it was concerned that CAR's stability was in danger because of internal ethnic conflicts in violence in neighboring Chad and Sudan's Darfur region.

"It is important that these elections are credible, transparent and inclusive and that the results are respected by all candidates and parties in accordance with the code of conduct," said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for CAR ahead of the election, saying the government can't provide safety for visitors against possible attacks from militants, including the Lord's Resistance Army, the main rebel group.