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    December 03, 2011

DRC Presidential Vote Disputed

   VOA News
   Supporters of oppositions candidate Etienne Tshisekedi parade what they
   claim are badly printed photocopies of election ballots they say they
   found in the Bandal commune in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo,
   November 28, 2011.

   The main opposition party in the Democratic Republic of Congo says it
   rejects early election results that give incumbent President Joseph
   Kabila some 50 percent of the vote.

   The Union for Democracy and Social Progress party said Saturday that it
   rejects the partial election results. It accused election officials of
   trying to mislead the public by releasing results from areas where Mr.
   Kabila has more support than his rival.

   Of President Kabila's 10 challengers, three have called for the vote to
   be annulled because of irregularities and logistical problems.

   Outside at least one vote-counting center in the capital, Kinshasa,
   reports Saturday said bags of ballots have split open or been dumped
   out and are being trampled into the ground.

   The election commission has said it will publish full provisional
   results by December 6th, when Mr. Kabila's term expires.Opposition
   candidate Etienne Tshisekedi is estimated to have about 34 percent of
   the vote so far.

   Of President Kabila's 10 challengers, three have called for the vote to
   be annulled because of irregularities and logistical problems.

   Opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi is estimated to have about 34
   percent of the vote so far.

   Of President Kabila's 10 challengers, three have called for the vote to
   be annulled because of irregularities and logistical problems.

   Outside at least one vote-counting center in the capital, Kinshasa,
   reports Saturday said bags of ballots have split open or been dumped
   out and are being trampled into the ground.

   The election commission has said it will publish full provisional
   results by December 6th, when Mr. Kabila's term expires.But
   Tshisekedi's party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, has
   complained that the numbers are untrustworthy.

   Reports say outside at least one vote-counting center in the capital,
   Kinshasa, bags of ballots have split open or been dumped out and are
   being trampled into the ground.
   The vast central African country was scheduled to hold a one-day vote
   Monday, but polling continued through Wednesday after ballots and voter
   lists failed to arrive at some polling stations.
   President Kabila is running for re-election against 10 challengers,
   three of whom have called for the vote to be annulled because of
   irregularities and logistical problems.
   The election commission has said it will publish full provisional
   results by December 6th, when Kabila's term expires.
   On Friday, Human Rights Watch said election-related violence killed at
   least 18 civilians and seriously wounded 100 others.
   The U.N. Security Council condemned the violence and expressed concern
   about what it called "logistical and technical difficulties" during the
   vote.
   A preliminary European Union report says election observers saw ballot
   box stuffing and ballot shortages, and that some people were turned
   away from the polls.
   African Union and other African observers have said the election was
   successful despite logistical problems.
   Congo's government has said it is bracing for possible violence
   following next week's announcement of the results.
   
   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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