U.N. Says Congo Is Ready For Polls Amid Violence
Nji Che - All Headline News Staff Writer Kinshasa, D.R. Congo (AHN) - The United Nations on Friday said the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to organize its first multi-party elections although violence killed more than six people during campaigns in the African country. Reuters quotes Deputy U.N. Special Representative for Congo, Ross Mountain, as saying, "We're ready for elections on Sunday." He was speaking a day after violence struck the Congolese capital, with supporters on one political party setting buildings to flames and attacking police and reporters. Mountain told journalists, "We deplore these incidents. But you know it could have been worse ... and here we are the next day and Kinshasa is calm." Congo has hardly witnessed a multi-party election over the last four decades. At least three police, two soldiers and one civilian were killed in the confrontations. In addition to the deaths, a rampaging crowd looted a church and the national media authority offices in Kinshasa. Despite minor violence caused by militant movements in some parts of the country, the international community has urged Congo to proceed with the elections scheduled for Sunday. Sunday's elections would stand as one of the biggest strides in Congolese democracy.
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