DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Vote counting begins in Presidential and Parliamentary elections
Record ID:
327645
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Vote counting begins in Presidential and Parliamentary elections
- Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Vote counting begins in Presidential and Parliamentary elections
- Date: 29th November 2011
- Summary: KINSHASA, DR CONGO (NOVEMBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ELECTORAL OFFICIALS FROM CONGO'S ELECTORAL BODY CENI REMOVING BALLOT PAPERS ON THE TABLE VARIOUS OF CENI OFFICIALS STARTING COUNTING/OFFICIALS WRITING DOWN RESULTS VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS HOLDING UP BALLOT PAPERS FOR COUNTING MORE OF OFFICIALS HOLDING UP BALLOT PAPERS FOR RESULT COUNTING/OFFICIALS WRITING DOWN RESULTS
- Embargoed: 14th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9DGV8SR6695IAM47LAX9G8YT9
- Story Text: Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo began vote counting in the capital Kinshasa on Monday (November 28), after an election day that was charcterised by outbreaks of violence in certain parts of the country, and allegations of fraud and irregularities, raising concerns of a protracted dispute over the elections outcome.
Tensions were high after a last minute to prepare for the vote, with rivals of incumbent President Joseph Kabila alleging bias in the national electoral electoral commission.
The polls - which pit Kabila against 10 rivals, including main opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, with more than 18, 500 candidates compete for 500 seats in parliament, will test progress towards stability after decades of misrule and two war in the last few years.
Many of the voters trekked between polling stations, confused where they were meant to cast their ballots, and scuffle broke out over shortages of voting materials and allegations of fraud.
Provisional results are due on December 6.
Concerns are mounting that a chaotic poll will pave the way for dispute between Kabila and Tshisekedi over the eventual results. A contested election in Ivory Coast, in West Africa, triggered a civil war earlier this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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