This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6234156.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Congo vote begins amid problems | Congo vote begins amid problems |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Polling stations have opened in the Republic of Congo for the first round of parliamentary elections. | |
| Around two million people are entitled to vote but many people have not received their voting cards. | Around two million people are entitled to vote but many people have not received their voting cards. |
| There are also widespread reports of errors on the electoral roll, with opposition parties crying foul. | There are also widespread reports of errors on the electoral roll, with opposition parties crying foul. |
| Around 40 parties are boycotting the election, saying it is aimed at shoring up President Denis Sassou, who has ruled the state for the last 23 years. | Around 40 parties are boycotting the election, saying it is aimed at shoring up President Denis Sassou, who has ruled the state for the last 23 years. |
| Those taking part cite problems with the distribution of electoral cards, mistakes on the electoral role, and an electoral commission appointed by presidential decree. | Those taking part cite problems with the distribution of electoral cards, mistakes on the electoral role, and an electoral commission appointed by presidential decree. |
| Cynicism | Cynicism |
| Henri Bouka is the head of the electoral commission and says there have been some problems. | Henri Bouka is the head of the electoral commission and says there have been some problems. |
| "We've done all we can to make sure the vote happens in a transparent and regular manner, and so that the result that comes out of the ballot box is really an expression of what people think," he said. | "We've done all we can to make sure the vote happens in a transparent and regular manner, and so that the result that comes out of the ballot box is really an expression of what people think," he said. |
| "It's true that in our commission there have been some weaknesses, but we've taken all the necessary steps to make sure all Congolese who are on the electoral lists can vote." | "It's true that in our commission there have been some weaknesses, but we've taken all the necessary steps to make sure all Congolese who are on the electoral lists can vote." |
| The government says it hopes the election will be the most peaceful since the former Marxist one-party state introduced its version of democracy 15 years ago. | The government says it hopes the election will be the most peaceful since the former Marxist one-party state introduced its version of democracy 15 years ago. |
| But it seems likely that a large number of Congolese will not be going out to vote. | But it seems likely that a large number of Congolese will not be going out to vote. |
| There is widespread cynicism about the behaviour of the country's politicians. | There is widespread cynicism about the behaviour of the country's politicians. |
| Congo is sub-Saharan Africa's sixth largest oil producer, but two thirds of the population live in dire poverty. | Congo is sub-Saharan Africa's sixth largest oil producer, but two thirds of the population live in dire poverty. |