POLITICS-RWANDA:
"Climate of Repression" as Voting Concludes
By Zack Baddorf

KIGALI, Aug 9, 2010 (IPS) - As voting concluded in Rwanda’s presidential elections, with incumbent President Paul Kagame expected to win by a landslide, fears remain that not all citizens will accept the results amidst claims the elections were neither free nor fair.

Critics claim the Aug. 9 elections were not fair as in the run-up opposition candidates were arrested to allegedly prevent them from standing against Kagame. Al Jezeera quoted Amnesty International saying there was a "climate of repression" in the country and that 30 newspapers had been banned, journalists had been targeted and opposition party figures intimidated.