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Bangui (AFP / Reuters) - Central African Republic will delay the presidential election three weeks so that the presidential election held May 16, said a presidential announcement Tuesday.

The vote, which was first held since President Francois Borize won a five-year period in 2005, originally scheduled on April 25th, but donor countries and the election commission said the elections free and fair elections can not be held on that date.

"The President, according to election commission chief counsel ... ordered, that the presidential and legislative elections will be held on Sunday, May 16, 2010," according to the announcement.

At the beginning of this month, Bozizé accept opposition calls for the immediate postponement of the election date that the rich reserves of gold, uranium and diamonds. But the rebellion has been plagued by domestic large-scale invetasi degrading.

Bozizé, which appears to power in a coup in 2003, has held talks with the rebels and the unarmed competitors.

Nevertheless, many rebel groups continue to operate in the north, near the border with Chad, while opposition parties say they fear the election will be held fraudulent.