DR Congo announces a 48-hour delay of publication of presidential election results

KINSHASA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Independent National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced late Tuesday a delay of 48 hours, from Tuesday to Thursday, for the publication of the provisional results of the presidential election.

The delay is "for the reasons of transparency and compliance with electoral procedures", said the electoral commission in a press release.

The commission said they are still waiting for results of some tally stations.

But it said it will release the fifth part results on Congolese National Television and Radio at 11:00 p.m. Tuesday.

The presidential election was held on Nov. 28 and the deadline for the publication of the provisional results was set on Dec. 6. But due to logistical delays the vote counting could not finish on time despite the government's efforts including dispatching helicopters to ferry results from remote polling stations.

Incumbent President Joseph Kabila took the lead in more than two-thirds of the votes published, election officials said earlier Tuesday.

Kabila won more than 46 percent of the votes counted, ahead of his main rival Etienne Tshisekedi, who scored around 36 percent, according to the preliminary results published for the third time since Friday.

The postponement of the publication of the winner of the presidential election was announced amidst rising tensions in the country with a election marred by violence, logistical problems and allegation of fraud.