Guinea-Bissau's first elections since coup delayed until 2014 as president narrows down date

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau – Officials in the volatile West African nation of Guinea-Bissau say national elections are now being delayed until 2014.

The interim president on Friday proposed postponing the poll set for Nov. 24, according to a proposal shown to political parties.

Manuel dos Santos, a representative of the PAIGC party who saw the proposal, said the dates being considered are in late February and early March.

The United Nations special representative to Guinea-Bissau already had said the vote would likely be delayed due to financial and logistical reasons.

Guinea-Bissau, used by drug traffickers to ferry cocaine to Europe, was just weeks away from a presidential runoff vote when a military coup took place in April 2012.

No leader in nearly 40 years of independence has finished his term in office.