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| DR Congo votes in landmark poll | DR Congo votes in landmark poll |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Voting has started in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential run-off, in one of Africa's most significant elections for many years. | Voting has started in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential run-off, in one of Africa's most significant elections for many years. |
| However, an early-morning thunderstorm prevented many voters and officials from getting to the polls in Kinshasa. | However, an early-morning thunderstorm prevented many voters and officials from getting to the polls in Kinshasa. |
| President Joseph Kabila, who came to power after his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001, is facing former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. | President Joseph Kabila, who came to power after his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001, is facing former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. |
| The UN-backed election crowns a peace process after five years of war. | The UN-backed election crowns a peace process after five years of war. |
| The run-off should conclude DR Congo's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960. | The run-off should conclude DR Congo's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960. |
| "We need this vote to put an end to the mess. With God's help we will," Isidor Kaombe told Reuters news agency as he waited for election officials to arrive an hour after voting was due to begin in the capital, Kinshasa. | "We need this vote to put an end to the mess. With God's help we will," Isidor Kaombe told Reuters news agency as he waited for election officials to arrive an hour after voting was due to begin in the capital, Kinshasa. |
| Voting is going ahead peacefully in the rest of the country, with no reports of any violence. | |
| Looters | Looters |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle in Kinshasa says it is impossible to exaggerate how the destiny of DR Congo could shape the future of Africa. | The BBC's Mark Doyle in Kinshasa says it is impossible to exaggerate how the destiny of DR Congo could shape the future of Africa. |
| href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6095950.stm" class="">Voting in pictures href="/1/hi/world/africa/6085536.stm" class="">Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba Profile: President Kabila | |
| Nine African states border the country and all were affected by the wars caused by the long lack of real government in DR Congo, the power vacuum at the heart of Africa, he says. | Nine African states border the country and all were affected by the wars caused by the long lack of real government in DR Congo, the power vacuum at the heart of Africa, he says. |
| Some four million people are thought to have died. | Some four million people are thought to have died. |
| Its rich reserves of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan - used in mobile phones - have attracted a series of armed groups, both Congolese and foreign, intent on looting. | Its rich reserves of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan - used in mobile phones - have attracted a series of armed groups, both Congolese and foreign, intent on looting. |
| DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but has just 300 miles of paved roads after years of conflict and gross mismanagement. | DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but has just 300 miles of paved roads after years of conflict and gross mismanagement. |
| UN officials say the polls are the most important on the continent since the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela that ended apartheid in South Africa. | UN officials say the polls are the most important on the continent since the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela that ended apartheid in South Africa. |
| However, our correspondent says the candidates are not Nelson Mandelas and neither of them has a good record of being a democrat. | However, our correspondent says the candidates are not Nelson Mandelas and neither of them has a good record of being a democrat. |
| Mr Kabila has strong support in the east of Congo; Mr Bemba is popular in the west. | Mr Kabila has strong support in the east of Congo; Mr Bemba is popular in the west. |
| Many easterners credit Mr Kabila with ending the war and blame the conflict on rebels such as Mr Bemba. | Many easterners credit Mr Kabila with ending the war and blame the conflict on rebels such as Mr Bemba. |
| Those in the west say Mr Kabila, who grew up in Tanzania, is not a true Congolese, unlike Mr Bemba. | Those in the west say Mr Kabila, who grew up in Tanzania, is not a true Congolese, unlike Mr Bemba. |
| Troops standby | Troops standby |
| Mr Kabila won first round polls on 30 July, but fell just short of the 50% needed for outright victory. | Mr Kabila won first round polls on 30 July, but fell just short of the 50% needed for outright victory. |
| FIRST ROUND RESULTS DR CONGO WAR 1997 - 20024m deadAt least 8 armies, many rebel groups2003: Rebels join unity governmentEast remains unstable17,000 UN peacekeepers He has also gained the support of the candidates who came third and fourth - veteran nationalist Antoine Gizenga and Nzanga Mobutu, son of the country's long-time leader, Mobutu Sese Seko. | |
| At least 23 people were killed in armed clashes between security forces loyal to Mr Kabila and Mr Bemba in Kinshasa after the results were announced. | |
| United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the two candidates to ensure that the election is peaceful. | United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the two candidates to ensure that the election is peaceful. |
| Both men have promised to urge their supporters against violence and to abide by election rules. | Both men have promised to urge their supporters against violence and to abide by election rules. |
| A UN official in Kinshasa has described the situation as "tense but manageable". | A UN official in Kinshasa has described the situation as "tense but manageable". |
| Extra UN peacekeeping troops are on standby in the east of the country. | Extra UN peacekeeping troops are on standby in the east of the country. |
| In Kinshasa, the UN is being backed up by a special European Union military force. | In Kinshasa, the UN is being backed up by a special European Union military force. |