Nervous Congo heads for polls

By Mark Dumnett

The second round of legislative elections are being held in the Republic of Congo, with more than half the seats in a new national assembly still to be decided.

In the first round, held earlier this month, only 51 out of 137 seats were determined, with the party of President Denis Sassou Nguesso winning a majority.

The first round was marred by accusations of vote rigging and violence in many polling stations.

Since then, insecurity in Congo has also become worse with an attack 10 days ago on the main military base in the capital Brazzaville.

Disqualified

After the first round, several candidates were disqualified for misdemeanours varying from assault to tampering with voting material.

President Sassou's party gained most seats won in the first round

They included the current minister of finance and President Sassou Nguesso's elder brother.

Once elected, Congo's new law makers will sit in the country's first democratically elected assembly in ten years, though critics say the president will retain most of his powers.

The former military ruler was himself elected earlier this year, winning almost 90% of the vote after opposition candidates either withdrew or were banned from entering the country.

Scared to go home

Brazzaville is reported to be calm but still tense the attack on its airport and main military base.

The armed men who carried out the raid were terrorist rebels, the government said.

Fighting between them and the army means polls will still not be held in most of the pro-opposition Pool region.

And in the capital itself, hundreds of people who live near the airport are still too scared to return to their homes.

The mayor of Brazzaville has organised buses to get most back in time for Sunday's polls, and authorities insist the elections will go ahead as planned.