Wednesday, August 01, 2007

40 days to go

Guatemala's fast approaching general elections are proving to be the deadliest in the 22-year period since democracy was restored.

There were apparently 23 canvassing-related fatalities leading up to the 2003 election, but with forty days to go before the 2007 vote, there have already been 49. UNE, party of likely next president Álvaro Colom, leads the way with 15 deaths, whilst GANA and PP have had 4 apiece. The reformed guerrillas from the URNG are currently down three of their number.

If no candidate for the presidency wins an outright majority, a second round of violence will be scheduled for the period leading up to Nov. 4.

More in depth coverage here in the LA Times.

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