HII KALI

Moroni. The Comoros has expelled a Tanzanian witch doctor suspected of having been hired to rig weekend elections with his magic, police said Thursday.
The juju man arrived in the Indian Ocean state two weeks ago and was repeatedly seen at the home of Mr Mohamed Abdoulhoihabi, the governor of the archipelago's main island of Grande Comore.

A senior police official who asked not to be named said the Tanzanian citizen was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of working to influence the weekend's polls and was deported on Wednesday.

"He's a friend, he used to come for meals regularly," the governor's wife complained after enquiring about the Tanzanian's fate with the police.

"Nothing is clear or official. We are being told he is a crook but no warrant was issued... Internal security confirmed his arrest and simply told us that witchcraft was banned," she added.

Mr Abdoulhoihabi, once a close aide to Comoran President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi and now an opposition politician, will face a ruling party candidate as he attempts to retain his job tomorrow.

The federation is holding a national presidential ballot today as well as elections for the posts of governor on each of the three islands: Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. (AFP)

source:mwananchi