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    December 20, 2011

Amid Dispute, DRC President Takes Oath of Office

   VOA News
   President of Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila (File)
   Photo: Reuters
   President of Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila (File)

   Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sworn in
   for a new term, as opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi continues to
   assert he is the country's rightful leader.
   Kabila took the oath Tuesday in Kinshasa, following an election last
   month that international observers say had many irregularities during
   the voting and counting process.
   Kabila has said there is no question about the legitimacy of his
   re-election, and election officials say he easily won.
   But Tshisekedi has rejected the results as fraudulent and declared
   himself president, saying he will take office Friday.
   The United States called the vote "seriously flawed."
   Kabila has suggested Tshisekedi use the appeals system to challenge the
   results.
   The presidential and legislative polls were only the second free
   elections in Congo since it was torn apart by several years of warfare
   that ended in 2003.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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