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                 Congo Votes on President's Bid to Extend Rule

   by VOA News

   Voters in the Republic of Congo are deciding whether to change the
   constitution so the president ''can run for another term.

   The amendments up for a vote in Sunday's referendum would abolish a
   two-term limit for presidents and an age limit of 70 for presidential
   candidates.

   All traffic except for security forces and those with a special police
   permit was banned from the roads in Brazzaville Sunday and the capital
   was quiet at the start of voting.

   Opposition calls for a boycott and lack of election materials combined
   to reduce voting to a trickle at many polling stations in the capital,
   witnesses said.

   In some places, the only voters were members of the security forces. At
   least four people were killed in anti-referendum protests in the
   capital, Brazzaville, Tuesday.

   ''

   ''Nguesso won disputed elections in 2002 and 2009, and has ruled Congo
   in different capacities for most of the past 36 years.

   He is the latest in a string of African leaders who have tried to
   prolong their stay in office, often in the face of opposition protests.

   Longtime Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore was toppled by a
   popular uprising last year after parliament attempted to change term
   limits in the constitution.

   Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza was elected to a third term in
   July but only after violent street demonstrations and a failed coup
   attempt.

   The presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also
   sought constitutional changes to stay in office.

   The European Union stressed Thursday that "freedom of expression and
   association should be preserved" and that "an inclusive dialogue was
   the only way to restore a broad consensus" in the country.

   President Francois Hollande, the Congo's former colonial power, urged
   Nguesso on Wednesday to "calm tensions" while emphasising his right to
   "consult his people."

   Some material for this report came from AP, AFP and Reuters
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/congo-votes-on-president-bid-to-exten
   d-rule/3022042.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/congo-votes-on-president-bid-to-extend-rule/3022042.html