23 Aug 2007

Kiribati to hold run-off polls for more than half of seats

3:12 pm on 23 August 2007

A second round of voting is to be held in Kiribati on August 30th after the results in more than half the seats in yesterday's poll were inconclusive.

Candidates need more than 50 percent of the votes to be successful and so far 18 of the 44 seats have been declared.

Among those returned are the incumbent President Anote Tong and a former Cabinet Minister James Tom.

The Electoral Commissioner Rine Ueara says counting is continuing in one other electorate but more than half the seats are likely to be decided in another round of voting for the remaining 26 seats scheduled for next Thursday.