Reuters AlertNet Lite - Congo tense as Bemba vows to contest Kabila win

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Congo tense as Bemba vows to contest Kabila win

16 Nov 2006 16:41:53 GMT
Source: Reuters

Previous | Next

A U.N. peacekeeper gestures as he tries to stop clashes between Congolese police and supporters of Congolese opposition presidential candidate Jean Pierre Bemba near Bemba's office in Kinshasa November 16, 2006. U.N. and European peacekeepers deployed in force to deter violence in Congo's capital on Thursday after President Joseph Kabila was declared winner of a historic election in a result disputed by his rival. Pockets of supporters of the defeated rival, Bemba, turned out in some parts of Kinshasa to express anger at the result announced late on Wednesday by Democratic Republic of Congo 's electoral commission.
REUTERS/GORAN TOMASEVIC

Background

• Congo (DR) conflict

MORE >>

(Recasts with Bemba rejecting result)

By David Lewis

KINSHASA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Congolese former rebel warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba vowed on Thursday to challenge "by all legal means" a presidential election result giving victory to his rival, incumbent President Joseph Kabila.

Vice-President Bemba, who led a rebel group in Congo's 1998-2003 war, rejected the provisional result announced by electoral officials as some of his youthful supporters stoned police and cars in the riverside capital Kinshasa.

Anticipating possible trouble, U.N. and European peacekeeping troops and local police deployed in force in Kinshasa on Thursday to prevent any violence stemming from the outcome of Democratic Republic of Congo's historic elections.

In a statement broadcast by a TV station he controls, Bemba rejected an announcement by the electoral commission late on Wednesday which gave Kabila victory with 58.05 percent of the votes against 41.95 percent for Bemba.

The result from the Oct. 29 presidential run-off still has to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.

"I regret to have to say to our people and the international community that I cannot accept these results which are far from reflecting the truth of the ballot box," Bemba said.

"I promise to use all legal means to ensure the will of our people is respected," he added. His campaign camp had already denounced "systematic cheating" in vote counting.

Bemba said the electoral commission had not replied adequately to his complaints.

As Bemba's aides prepared a strategy to challenge the result, foreign governments and leaders urged all sides in the war-scarred country to accept the polls outcome peacefully.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Congolese to "receive the results calmly, and responsibly (and) to refrain from any recourse to violence".

The elections in Congo were its first free polls in more than 40 years and were aimed at leaving behind years of chaos and violence in the vast, mineral-rich former Belgian colony.

"COULD BE WORSE"

A western diplomat said Bemba had told the U.N. and Congo's army that he was not going to attempt military action.

"It could be worse. It was never likely he was going to accept the results but at least he hasn't used incendiary language," the diplomat told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Bemba now has three days in which to take his complaint to the Supreme Court.

U.N. soldiers from the world's biggest peacekeeping force took up positions in Kinshasa on Thursday to avoid a repeat of past deadly gunbattles between Bemba's and Kabila's supporters.

After Bemba's statement, Kinshasa's streets were largely deserted as shops closed early and people rushed home.

Earlier groups of angry pro-Bemba youths stoned passing cars outside Bemba's official residence. U.N. forces positioned several armoured vehicles between the police and the protesters.

U.N. officials and foreign governments hailed last month's vote as a major milestone in Congo's bid to build a new era of stability and prosperity following the end of the war.

"It is vital the international community maintains its support," Ross Mountain, deputy head of the U.N. mission, said.

Congo's war spawned a humanitarian crisis that has killed 4 million people. Aid workers estimate 1,200 still die daily from violence, hunger and disease.

Soldiers loyal to the two rival candidates fought days of street battles in August in which at least 30 people died. Four more were killed last Saturday when the two sides clashed again.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Emergencies

• Congo (DR) conflict

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Angola profile
· View map

• Democratic Republic of Congo profile
· View map

• Rwanda profile
· View map

• South Africa profile
· View map

• Uganda profile
· View map

• Zimbabwe profile

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Alliance urges action to close the HIV services gap at International Development Committee session on global HIV epidemic
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Mass measles vaccinations are effective at early signs of outbreak
MSF International

• Concern's emergency repsonse in Eastern DRCongo
Concern Worldwide - Ireland

• Kathy Holmgren returns to Africa, bringing health and hope to families in Rwanda
Northwest Medical Teams International - USA

• ACT Rapid Response payment: Rwanda (refugees from Tanzania)
ACT - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• Congo tense as Bemba vows to contest Kabila win

• Congo neighbours hope for dividends from Kabila win

• Congo's Bemba to contest Kabila poll win "legally"

• Congo's Bemba say he doesn't accept Kabila poll win

• Uganda: UN Should Stress Peace, Justice Go Hand in Hand

MORE >>

Last updated:Thu Nov 16 16:47:03 2006