Polls close in Congo elections (BBC) {Democracy aided by UN, not Bu**sh**}

[eppur_se_muova]

Polls have closed in national elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo - the first multi-party vote in 40 years.

The elections were aimed at ending a long civil war, with 32 candidates, including incumbent Joseph Kabila, contesting the presidency.

More than 9,000 candidates were running for parliament and some 25m voters, were protected by the biggest UN peacekeeping operation in the world.

Counting is already under way, but full results are not expected for weeks.
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A spokesman for the United Nations said the election had gone smoothly although there were technical difficulties in some places, such as voting material not being in place, or inaccurate voters' lists.
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DR CONGO POLLS

32 presidential candidates
9,709 parliamentary candidates
25.6m voters
50,000 polling stations
260,000 electoral staff
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5226772.stm

Hmmm...no mention of voting MACHINES...so things are good.