France, Sept. 3 -- Ahead of Cameroon's 12 October presidential election, the opposition remains divided, despite agreement on the need to unite behind a candidate to face off against President Paul Biya, who is seeking an eighth term. Meanwhile, the United Nations has sounded the alarm over whether tensions in the country will make free elections impossible.

The UN on Tuesday said that growing restrictions in Cameroon surrounding the upcoming election "raise fears" over whether voters will be able to freely choose their candidate.

"A safe and enabling human rights environment is essential for peaceful, inclusive and credible elections. It regrettably appears that this is not the case in Cameroon," said UN rights chief Volker Turk.

His ...