EU: DRC must vote peacefully

2006-09-12 22:14

Kinshasa - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana issued a plea on Tuesday for the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to continue peacefully, said his entourage.

Solana held a series of meetings on Monday morning with representatives of the international community and DRC leaders, on his first visit to the country since deadly fighting broke out in the capital Kinshasa last month.

On August 20, as preliminary results from the first round of voting showed presidential rivals President Joseph Kabila and vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba neck and neck in the polls, fighting between their rival forces left 23 people dead in the DRC capital Kinshasa.

A spokesperson for Solana said meetings with William Swing, head of the UN mission in DRC, the head of the electoral commission Appolinaire Malu Malu, and the vice-presidents, Bemba and Azarias Ruberwa, had been "constructive and positive".

Elections held in good conditions

"Mr Solana underlined the importance of the transition process in DRC and reaffirmed the support of the EU in the process," said the spokesperson, who did not wish to be named.

"He recalled that the elections had been held in good conditions."

After the violence of August 20 to 22, we are analysing the situation and looking ahead.

"We have to reach the end of the process peacefully."

The EU is the main supporter of the elections in DRC, which it is funding to the tune of $210m (about R1.5bn).

Solana will meet Kabila on Tuesday before heading to the base of the European force Eufor in Kinshasa.

Eurfor intervened for the first time when the fighting broke out in Kinshasa, deploying armoured vehicles in the capital's business district, where soldiers loyal to Kabila and Bemba were engaged in armed battle.

An uneasy calm has reigned in the capital since August 22.

Solana praised the "work achieved" by Eufor, in support of the UN troops, when he arrived in Kinshasa, said the spokesperson, adding that the diplomat would comment further later in the day.

- SAPA