Kabila confirmed as winner

KINSHASA – Congo’s supreme court ruled on Monday that charges of vote fraud by presidential runner-up Jean-Pierre Bemba were without foundation, ending his challenge to the victory of interim President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila won a landmark October election with 58 per cent of votes, compared with about 42 per cent for Bemba, according to provisional results that the court also confirmed on Monday as the final tally. Bemba had said that systematic cheating marred the process and took his dispute to the courts.The court “receives the request introduced by the candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, but declares it without foundation,” Judge Kalonda Teleoma said.”The supreme court of justice proclaims Joseph Kabila elected by absolute majority,” Chief Judge Benoit Lwamba said.The announcement was broadcast on Congolese television.The electoral process in war-plagued Congo has been restive at best.Fighting erupted between supporters of the two candidates as results were released from a first round vote and briefly again after the second round.Last week, parts of the supreme court building caught on fire as fighting broke out among mobs of Bemba supporters.Monday’s ruling also followed three days of fighting in the east between Congolese army forces and those loyal to a regional warlord, battles that killed at least three and pulled in UN forces early Monday.UN forces had pushed back an attempt by the troops to advance to Goma, the capital of Congo’s North Kivu province, UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said.The capital appeared calm immediately after the announcement of results.Kabila will become Congo’s first freely elected president since independence from Belgium in 1960.Nampa-APBemba had said that systematic cheating marred the process and took his dispute to the courts.The court “receives the request introduced by the candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, but declares it without foundation,” Judge Kalonda Teleoma said.”The supreme court of justice proclaims Joseph Kabila elected by absolute majority,” Chief Judge Benoit Lwamba said.The announcement was broadcast on Congolese television.The electoral process in war-plagued Congo has been restive at best.Fighting erupted between supporters of the two candidates as results were released from a first round vote and briefly again after the second round.Last week, parts of the supreme court building caught on fire as fighting broke out among mobs of Bemba supporters.Monday’s ruling also followed three days of fighting in the east between Congolese army forces and those loyal to a regional warlord, battles that killed at least three and pulled in UN forces early Monday.UN forces had pushed back an attempt by the troops to advance to Goma, the capital of Congo’s North Kivu province, UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said.The capital appeared calm immediately after the announcement of results.Kabila will become Congo’s first freely elected president since independence from Belgium in 1960.Nampa-AP