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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Counting begins in Congo election | Counting begins in Congo election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Counting has begun in the Republic of Congo after a day of voting in the first round of parliamentary elections. | Counting has begun in the Republic of Congo after a day of voting in the first round of parliamentary elections. |
| Early indications are that the turnout was low, with the electoral commission saying mistakes had been made. | Early indications are that the turnout was low, with the electoral commission saying mistakes had been made. |
| The commission says it will take at least a week before the results of this election are known. | The commission says it will take at least a week before the results of this election are known. |
| Some 40 parties boycotted the poll, saying it was aimed at shoring up President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who has ruled the state for 23 years. | Some 40 parties boycotted the poll, saying it was aimed at shoring up President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who has ruled the state for 23 years. |
| 'Incompetence' | 'Incompetence' |
| In a short press conference in Brazzaville after casting his vote, Mr Sassou-Nguesso warned people against prejudging the election before the results were published. | |
| What is clear is that many people were unable to vote because they had not received their electoral cards or because they were not on the electoral roll. | What is clear is that many people were unable to vote because they had not received their electoral cards or because they were not on the electoral roll. |
| In the remote northern town of Impfondo, observers said some voting stations could not open because they had neither electoral rolls nor ballot papers. | In the remote northern town of Impfondo, observers said some voting stations could not open because they had neither electoral rolls nor ballot papers. |
| Several people produced electoral cards accidentally printed for children and many - including the president - had their birthdays incorrectly printed on the electoral roll. | Several people produced electoral cards accidentally printed for children and many - including the president - had their birthdays incorrectly printed on the electoral roll. |
| Opposition parties campaigned for the vote to be delayed. | Opposition parties campaigned for the vote to be delayed. |
| In at least one constituency, Mossendjo in the western province of Niari, candidates and election officials called off the ballot until all the materials are in place, probably in a few days time. | In at least one constituency, Mossendjo in the western province of Niari, candidates and election officials called off the ballot until all the materials are in place, probably in a few days time. |
| "We can talk about incompetence, but we can also talk about a deliberate attempt not to organise good elections," said Roger Owoko, the head of Congo's OCDH human rights organisation, which has been monitoring the elections. | "We can talk about incompetence, but we can also talk about a deliberate attempt not to organise good elections," said Roger Owoko, the head of Congo's OCDH human rights organisation, which has been monitoring the elections. |
| "We can't imagine that with the knowledge we have of organising elections, that we make even worse mistakes than at the last election in 2002." | "We can't imagine that with the knowledge we have of organising elections, that we make even worse mistakes than at the last election in 2002." |
| Analysts say they expect candidates loyal to the president to maintain their control of the national assembly. | Analysts say they expect candidates loyal to the president to maintain their control of the national assembly. |
| Those candidates who have not gained a majority of the votes cast in their constituencies will face a second round run-off in a month's time. | Those candidates who have not gained a majority of the votes cast in their constituencies will face a second round run-off in a month's time. |