DR Congo election: Mediation effort to avert violence

Mediators have intervened to avert violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of the release of complete election results.

Reports say opposition supporters have warned they will reject President Joseph Kabila's victory, alleging widespread rigging.

Official results show that with about 90 per cent of votes counted, Mr Kabila has 49 per cent, against 33 per cent for his main rival, Etienne Tshisekedi.

Intervention

Riot police have been patrolling the capital, Kinshasa.

Tear gas has already been used to disperse Mr Tshisekedi's supporters.
'Respect outcome.'

“A mediation team - formed with the backing of the election commission and the United Nations mission in DR Congo - has held talks with Mr Kabila and Mr Tshisekedi in a bid to defuse tensions, its chairman,” Cheikh Abdallah Mangala, a Muslim cleric, told newsmen.

He said: "Each of them will accept what comes out of the ballot box, as we have asked them."

Mr Mangala said Mr Tshisekedi had set the condition that the election commission should publish full details from each polling station, including the number of votes obtained by the candidates and the number of ballots cast adding that the commission had agreed to this.

The commission says it will publish full provisional results on Thursday, after a 48-hour delay because of logistical problems.

According to Human Rights Watch, election violence has already left at least 18 dead and more than 100 wounded.

BBC/Adekusibe/Williams