KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Landmark nationwide elections originally scheduled for June will be delayed by several months but should be held by November, the head of Congo’s electoral commission said Friday.

The delay was in line with a peace accord signed by the nation’s former warring factions in 2002, as well as the constitution, which grants the government the authority for two postponements of six months, said Apolinaire Malumalu, chief of the country’s independent electoral commission.

He gave no specific reason for the delay.

In a Dec. 31 address, President Joseph Kabila said he was determined to hold the vote this year. “Only credible elections will bring about political stability in our country. Elections will surely take place in 2005,” Kabila said.

The vast central African country’s five-year war officially ended in 2002, but persistent ethnic fighting and revolts have continued in the east. The United Nations said last month that troops from tiny Rwanda, Congo’s longtime foe, crossed into its larger neighbor, raising concerns of a return to the war that embroiled Central Africa.

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed concern about the “extremely volatile” security situation in Congo’s east, saying it may present a challenge to holding elections, originally due to have been held by June 30.

“I don’t want to make a big deal about June 30th ... because the constitution allows for a deferment of six months which can be renewed once again,” Malumalu said.

“We want all this country’s politicians to help us achieve everything by the end of October, so that elections can take place in October or November,” he said.