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| Clashes erupt in DR Congo capital | Clashes erupt in DR Congo capital |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Clashes have erupted between security forces and supporters of a presidential candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa. | Clashes have erupted between security forces and supporters of a presidential candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa. |
| Two civilians were reportedly killed in the fighting after gunfire and explosions were heard near the offices of Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba. | |
| He trails his rival, President Joseph Kabila, with most votes counted in the second round of a presidential poll. | |
| Fighters loyal to the two men clashed after the first round of voting. | Fighters loyal to the two men clashed after the first round of voting. |
| At least 23 people were killed in gun battles in Kinshasa after the announcement of first round results in late July. | At least 23 people were killed in gun battles in Kinshasa after the announcement of first round results in late July. |
| The first round of elections showed a regional divide, with Mr Kabila gaining a landslide in the Swahili-speaking east, while Mr Bemba got most support in the west, where Lingala is the common language. | The first round of elections showed a regional divide, with Mr Kabila gaining a landslide in the Swahili-speaking east, while Mr Bemba got most support in the west, where Lingala is the common language. |
| Mr Bemba's supporters have repeatedly said electoral fraud has damaged their candidate's chances. | Mr Bemba's supporters have repeatedly said electoral fraud has damaged their candidate's chances. |
| Latest results from the second round run-off give Mr Kabila 61% of the vote, and the former rebel leader Mr Bemba 39%, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) website. | Latest results from the second round run-off give Mr Kabila 61% of the vote, and the former rebel leader Mr Bemba 39%, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) website. |
| Government warning | Government warning |
| Saturday's violence is said to have started when Mr Bemba's armed supporters took to the streets near his offices. | Saturday's violence is said to have started when Mr Bemba's armed supporters took to the streets near his offices. |
| RUN-OFF RESULTS Kabila: 61%Bemba: 39%Turnout: 67%Votes counted: 65% Source: CEI | RUN-OFF RESULTS Kabila: 61%Bemba: 39%Turnout: 67%Votes counted: 65% Source: CEI |
| Police reportedly fired in the air to disperse the group, who had placed burning tyres in the streets to disrupt traffic. | Police reportedly fired in the air to disperse the group, who had placed burning tyres in the streets to disrupt traffic. |
| Gun and heavy artillery fire has been heard, and reports say Mr Bemba's supporters are armed with mortars and rocket launchers. | Gun and heavy artillery fire has been heard, and reports say Mr Bemba's supporters are armed with mortars and rocket launchers. |
| According to the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman, many of them are high on drugs and half-naked, with a piece of red tissue on their head or their shoulder to differentiate them from the other soldiers. | According to the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman, many of them are high on drugs and half-naked, with a piece of red tissue on their head or their shoulder to differentiate them from the other soldiers. |
| He says they may be trying to provoke unrest in the capital, knowing that most of the people in the area voted for Mr Bemba in the election. | He says they may be trying to provoke unrest in the capital, knowing that most of the people in the area voted for Mr Bemba in the election. |
| According to the Reuters news agency, the government has threatened to despatch the army to quell the unrest. | According to the Reuters news agency, the government has threatened to despatch the army to quell the unrest. |
| "If this continues, the army will have to intervene to restore order," Interior Minister Denis Kalume told the agency. | "If this continues, the army will have to intervene to restore order," Interior Minister Denis Kalume told the agency. |
| UN and EU peacekeeping troops stationed in the city are also on alert but have not intervened. | UN and EU peacekeeping troops stationed in the city are also on alert but have not intervened. |
| Results pledge | Results pledge |
| This year's elections were the first since the end of DR Congo's five-year civil war, in which up to four million people died. | This year's elections were the first since the end of DR Congo's five-year civil war, in which up to four million people died. |
| Joseph Kabila (l) is leading Jean-Pierre Bemba (r) | Joseph Kabila (l) is leading Jean-Pierre Bemba (r) |
| They are also seen as the country's first free elections since independence in 1960. | They are also seen as the country's first free elections since independence in 1960. |
| United Nations observers said the vote was the most significant one in Africa since Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's president in 1994. | United Nations observers said the vote was the most significant one in Africa since Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's president in 1994. |
| Turnout in the second round was 67%, with 65% of the votes counted, according to the CEI. | Turnout in the second round was 67%, with 65% of the votes counted, according to the CEI. |
| The commission has until 19 November to announce the results and stresses that no "trend projection" can be made on the basis of the provisional results. | The commission has until 19 November to announce the results and stresses that no "trend projection" can be made on the basis of the provisional results. |
| Both men have pledged to respect the outcome of the election. | Both men have pledged to respect the outcome of the election. |
| The world's largest peacekeeping force - 17,000-strong - is in DR Congo, tasked with ensuring security. | The world's largest peacekeeping force - 17,000-strong - is in DR Congo, tasked with ensuring security. |
| International observers generally praised the vote as being well-run, despite some disruptions in the north-east of the country. | International observers generally praised the vote as being well-run, despite some disruptions in the north-east of the country. |
| The election was intended to close the door on decades of dictatorship and conflict. | The election was intended to close the door on decades of dictatorship and conflict. |
| Counting the votes is a time-consuming process as all the ballot papers had to be transported from sometimes remote locations to compilation centres. | Counting the votes is a time-consuming process as all the ballot papers had to be transported from sometimes remote locations to compilation centres. |
| DR Congo is two-thirds the size of western Europe and has just 300 miles of paved roads. | DR Congo is two-thirds the size of western Europe and has just 300 miles of paved roads. |
| The country's rich reserves of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan - used in mobile phones - have attracted a series of armed groups, both Congolese and foreign, intent on looting. | The country's rich reserves of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan - used in mobile phones - have attracted a series of armed groups, both Congolese and foreign, intent on looting. |