Post-election clashes

At least four people were killed and several others injured in the Democratic Republic of Congo as post-election clashes continued into Saturday.

Incumbent President Joseph Kabila was declared the provisional winner of the November 28 election on Friday, defeating the main opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi. Immediate gunfire rung out in the capital Kinshasa as Tshisekedi rejected Kabila's victory and declared himself the newly-elected leader.

"I consider these results a real provocation of the Congolese people," he said in an interview on RFI radio. "As a consequence, I consider myself, from today, the elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo."

Police used tear gas to break up protests and celebrations overnight after supporters of the opposition set fire to tyres and looted shops in the Kinshasa neighborhood of Ngaliema.

Disputed result

Results released by the election commission revealed Kabila won with 49 percent of the 18.14 million votes cast, while his rival had 32 percent.

The announcement of the election result was delayed several times following logistical problems and reports of disorganization and fraud.

International observers said they were still analyzing results but had already found some irregularities. In some districts they have found a voter turnout of almost 100 percent, with most of the votes going to Kabila, said David Pottie, mission manager for the US-based Carter Center.

"These results aren't even naturally occurring, you simply don't get that many people all being healthy, motivated, getting to the polls and voting in such unison," Pottie told the news agency Reuters.

EU calls for calm

Anticipating violence, the chief of the DRC's election commission warned against renewed conflict in the war-scarred central African state on Friday.

"(The results) are no reason to whip up the population against the established order to contest the results, or to settle scores," Daniel Ngoy Mulunda told officials and diplomats gathered to hear the results.

European Union chief diplomat, Catherine Aston echoed the election commission's appeal for calm, urging security forces and politicians to foster a "calm atmosphere" in a "crucial time for the future of the DRC." She also requested that any challenges to the vote should be carried out through legal channels.

Human Rights Watch claims that 18 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in the build up to the November election when opposition protesters took to the streets alleging the government was attempting to rig the vote. Most of the deaths were believed to have been caused by troops loyal to President Kabila.

The November 28 poll was just the second in the Democratic Republic of Congo since back-to-back wars from 1996 to 2003. The results must now be approved by the country's Supreme Court.

Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Andreas Illmer