Parliament dissolved ahead of elections

Botswana's parliament was dissolved at the weekend ahead of general elections expected in October. A spokesman of the electoral commission told IRIN on Monday that parliament would not reconvene until after the elections. "The announcement of the election date is the prerogative of the president, Festus Mogae," the spokesman said. He further said there are 40 parliamentary seats and 406 local council wards that will be contested. The spokesman added that six political parties would contest the elections, which had been successively won by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party since the country gained independence from Britain in 1966.