21.   However, the former prime minister failed to explain why he was still a candidate in the polls if he believed voters should boycott the ballot.

22.   But the ballot was boycotted by Foreign Minister Herve de Charette and Finance Minister Alain Madelin, both PR members.

23.   It was not clear why the two were killed as the National Conference has decided to boycott the ballot.

24.   Milongo, a former parliamentary speaker and prime minister under Lissouba, on Friday urged his supporters to boycott the ballot and demanded that it be suspended altogether.

25.   The ballot is being boycotted by opposition groups.