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Bemba accepts DR Congo poll loss | Bemba accepts DR Congo poll loss |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has accepted defeat in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential poll. | Ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has accepted defeat in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential poll. |
He said he stood by his complaints against President Joseph Kabila's run-off victory - which were rejected by the Supreme Court on Monday. | He said he stood by his complaints against President Joseph Kabila's run-off victory - which were rejected by the Supreme Court on Monday. |
But he would participate in a "strong republican opposition in the interests of the nation", his statement said. | But he would participate in a "strong republican opposition in the interests of the nation", his statement said. |
International observers said the first democratic elections since independence in 1960 had been broadly free and fair. | |
The court confirmed the provisional results of the Independent Electoral Commission, with Mr Kabila winning 58% of the vote compared to Mr Bemba's 42%. | |
RUN-OFF RESULT Kabila: 58.05%Bemba: 41.95%Votes counted: 100% Profile: Joseph Kabila | RUN-OFF RESULT Kabila: 58.05%Bemba: 41.95%Votes counted: 100% Profile: Joseph Kabila |
It means that Mr Kabila, president since his father's assassination in 2001, will continue to rule DR Congo, which is trying to recover after a bloody five-year war. | It means that Mr Kabila, president since his father's assassination in 2001, will continue to rule DR Congo, which is trying to recover after a bloody five-year war. |
Last week, a protest by Bemba supporters outside the Supreme Court led to violence and the court was set alight. | Last week, a protest by Bemba supporters outside the Supreme Court led to violence and the court was set alight. |
Forces loyal to Mr Bemba were subsequently ordered out of the capital by Mr Kabila. | Forces loyal to Mr Bemba were subsequently ordered out of the capital by Mr Kabila. |
The results showed a regional divide, with Mr Bemba gaining most votes in the Lingala-speaking west, including Kinshasa, while Mr Kabila won by a landslide in the Swahili-speaking east. | The results showed a regional divide, with Mr Bemba gaining most votes in the Lingala-speaking west, including Kinshasa, while Mr Kabila won by a landslide in the Swahili-speaking east. |
US election observer group the Carter Center said there was evidence of vote tampering on both sides. | US election observer group the Carter Center said there was evidence of vote tampering on both sides. |
But it said neither candidate benefited significantly over the other. | But it said neither candidate benefited significantly over the other. |
The elections were supposed to draw a line under a five-year conflict in which about four million people died. | The elections were supposed to draw a line under a five-year conflict in which about four million people died. |
The polls were organised under the terms of a 2002 peace deal to end a war that drew in the armies of nine other African countries. | |
Under the deal, former rebels were supposed to be integrated into the army, but progress has been slow and the three former rebel leaders who are vice-presidents have retained large personal security forces. | Under the deal, former rebels were supposed to be integrated into the army, but progress has been slow and the three former rebel leaders who are vice-presidents have retained large personal security forces. |
The world's biggest peacekeeping force - about 17,000 strong - is in DR Congo to prevent unrest. | The world's biggest peacekeeping force - about 17,000 strong - is in DR Congo to prevent unrest. |
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