Burundi envoy says elections will go ahead over the next month, rejecting another postponement

UNITED NATIONS – Burundi's United Nations ambassador says elections will go ahead as scheduled during the next month, saying 95 percent of the country wants to vote and not remain hostage to a "radical minority" that keeps seeking postponements.

Albert Shingiro told a Security Council meeting on Friday that another postponement would plunge the government into a constitutional vacuum.

Agathon Rwasa, a leading opposition candidate, said earlier Friday that elections should be postponed until conditions making the polls free and fair are met.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also appealed to the government to seriously consider the proposal by the African Union and groups in the region to postpone elections again, his spokesman said.

Shingiro said holding parliamentary elections Monday and presidential elections on July 15 are the latest dates to respect the constitution.