Vote Delayed; President Fires Interior Minister

Parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled to begin in Cameroon were postponed for a week because of logistical problems, and the president dismissed his interior minister in response to the debacle.

Balloting had already started in some areas when a decree was broadcast on state radio postponing voting until Sunday.

President Paul Biya’s office said the state-run printing press had not finished producing all the ballots. Later, Biya dismissed Interior Minister Ferdinand Koungou Edima, who was responsible for organizing the elections.

Opposition leaders said the postponement was evidence of the failings of Biya’s government.