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Kabila near to DR Congo victory | Kabila near to DR Congo victory |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is close to winning the election run-off, with 90% of the votes counted, results show. | Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is close to winning the election run-off, with 90% of the votes counted, results show. |
Mr Kabila has 60%, while former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has 40%, according to results on the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) website. | Mr Kabila has 60%, while former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has 40%, according to results on the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) website. |
Tension is high in the capital, Kinshasa, following weekend clashes in which four people were killed. | |
The vote is the first following DR Congo's five-year conflict. | The vote is the first following DR Congo's five-year conflict. |
The CEI is not declaring a winner until it investigates allegations of fraud by Mr Bemba and his supporters. | The CEI is not declaring a winner until it investigates allegations of fraud by Mr Bemba and his supporters. |
CEI spokesman Dieudonne Mirimo said Mr Bemba's party had now submitted five official complaints. | CEI spokesman Dieudonne Mirimo said Mr Bemba's party had now submitted five official complaints. |
RUN-OFF RESULTS Kabila: 60%Bemba: 40%Turnout: 66%Votes counted: 90% Source: CEI | RUN-OFF RESULTS Kabila: 60%Bemba: 40%Turnout: 66%Votes counted: 90% Source: CEI |
Following Saturday's violence, the police have arrested 337 homeless people, including 87 children, the government says, blaming them for starting the trouble. | |
Eye-witnesses say that security forces loyal to the two candidates exchanged gun- and mortar-fire. | |
United Nations observers say the election is the most significant in Africa since Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's president in 1994. | United Nations observers say the election is the most significant in Africa since Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's president in 1994. |
They are seen as the country's first free elections since independence in 1960. | They are seen as the country's first free elections since independence in 1960. |
Respect results | Respect results |
Turnout was 66%, according to the CEI. | Turnout was 66%, 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. |
At least four people were killed in Saturday's clashes | |
Both men have pledged to respect the outcome of the election. | Both men have pledged to respect the outcome of the election. |
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. |
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. |
At least 23 people were killed in gun battles between security forces loyal to the two men in the capital, Kinshasa, after the announcement of first round results. | At least 23 people were killed in gun battles between security forces loyal to the two men in the capital, Kinshasa, after the announcement of first round results. |
Mr Kabila won 45% of the vote, while Mr Bemba got 20%. | Mr Kabila won 45% of the vote, while Mr Bemba got 20%. |
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. |
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