Congo vote begins despite delay, fears and violence

President Joseph Kabila is seeking another term

Congo vote begins despite delay, fears and violence

Voting began on Monday, in Congo's second-post war election after poll organisers defied fears that a delay would be needed to deal with logistical problems and critics who called for a review because of irregularities.

After repeated delays, the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary vote turned violent in the capital at the weekend.

Final rallies were cancelled due to clashes between rival supporters, security forces opened fire on crowds and the main presidential challenger was prevented from campaigning.

The polls- which pit President Joseph Kabila against 10 rivals while more than 18,500candidates compete for 500 seats in parliament - will test the central African nation's progress towards stability after decades of misrule and two wars in the last 15 years.

In the eastern lakeside town of Goma, which has seen some of the worst violence, polls opened slightly late but thousands of people lined up to cast their ballots.

"I am happy to have voted. I want change so I hope those that lose accept the results.;we don't want trouble", Joel Mweso, a student, told reporters.