ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- There are irregularities in the voting in the rebel-held north of the Ivory Coast where a tight race for president is under way, authorities said Monday.
The first round of voting in a presidential contest in the Ivory Coast was inconclusive, leading to a second round Sunday. Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo squared off against former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara in the runoff.
Elections in 2000, the United Nations said, were marred by violence when supporters of Gbagbo took to the streets after military leader Robert Guei declared himself the winner.
Authorities imposed a curfew that runs through Wednesday after at least three people were killed in the latest election-related violence, the BBC reports.
Election officials said they expected the second round to be tight, though authorities expected a result as early as late Monday.
Supporters of Gbagbo said forces in the north of the country "ransacked polling stations," saying the election in the rebel-held area was "not transparent," the BBC reported.
Gbagbo added he heard reports of "irregularities" but was upbeat in general on the election.
"We have a lot of hope we will overcome all these irregularities to put in place a veritable democracy," he was quoted as saying.
