Santo Domingo, February 23 (RHC)-- Citizens of the Dominican Republic participated Saturday in a national 'cacerolazo' to demand transparent elections after the municipal elections were suspended last week due to problems in electronic voting, four hours after the elections began.

From their homes, people took out their pots and beat them, calling on municipal elections to be carried out with guarantees.  They also called for the resignation of the entire board of the electoral body.  With this demonstration, citizens also asked the Central Electoral Board (JCE) for a comprehensive report explaining the reason for the suspension of municipal elections.

Last Thursday, dozens of protesters gathered outside the JCE to repudiate their position in front of the elections, dressed in black, with bugles and banners referring to the electoral incident, protesters hindered traffic in that area of Santo Domingo, because the protest coincided with rush hour traffic.

One student, Johanna Estevez, told reporters that the authorities of the Board knew the failures in the automated system and, even so, they called on the Dominicans to go to the polls and vote.   Meanwhile, opposition political parties announced a demonstration next Sunday in front of the JCE, where they will read a proclamation regarding the upcoming municipal elections.