The Congo Elections

Election posters adorn a wall in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Pedestrians walk past election posters in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Supporters of legislative candidate Edo Kiaku Mbuta march through the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Women pose against a wall of election posters in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Supporters of incumbent President Joseph Kabila ride in a vehicle through the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Supporters of incumbent President Joseph Kabila ride in a vehicle through the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 25, 2011. Congo's election due on Monday will test the giant nation's tentative steps towards recovery after decades of instability, but last-minute and heavily-criticised preparations point to a chaotic vote and a potentially bloody aftermath. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Bullets fired by a member of the presidential guard (L) kick up dust (R) in front of a crowd of opposition UDPS supporters outside N'Djili airport in Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A riot policeman runs from teargas fired at a crowd of opposition UDPS supporters outside N'Djili airport in Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Opposition UDPS supporters run through a cloud of teargas outside N'Djili airport in Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

An opposition UDPS supporter who was shot through the right shin after the presidential guard opened fire on a crowd of opposition supporters is carried outside N'Djili airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Riot police chase opposition UDPS supporters caught in a cloud of tear gas outside N'Djili airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

An opposition UDPS member bleeds from a head wound after being beaten by security forces outside N'Djili airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Riot police walk through a cloud of tear gas beneath a campaign poster for incumbent President Joseph Kabila outside N'Djili airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A line of riot police advances against opposition UDPS supporters outside N'Djili airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 26, 2011. Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city. Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) leader Etienne Tshisekedi speaks to the media at his residence in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 27, 2011. International organisations appealed for calm on the eve of Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election, after a run-up that has already been tainted by deadly street clashes and delayed poll preparations. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A man cast his ballot at a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Voting began in Congo's second-post war election on Monday after poll organisers defied fears that a delay would be needed to deal with logistical problems and critics who called for a review because of irregularities. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A woman carrying her child on her back receives a ballot to vote at a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Voting began in Congo's second-post war election on Monday after poll organisers defied fears that a delay would be needed to deal with logistical problems and critics who called for a review because of irregularities. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Confused voters look for their names on registration lists at a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Voting began in Congo's second-post war election on Monday after poll organisers defied fears that a delay would be needed to deal with logistical problems and critics who called for a review because of irregularities. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Incumbent Congolese President Joseph Kabila receives his ballot at a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Voting began slowly on Monday in Congo's second-post war election, held despite fears logistical problems and irregularities would undermine the result. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly )

Members of Congo's presidential guard walk through heavy rain ahead of incumbent Joseph Kabila (not seen) as he leaves a polling station after voting in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Voting began slowly on Monday in Congo's second-post war election, held despite fears logistical problems and irregularities would undermine the result. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi waves from his car window while driving through the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 28, 2011. Violence erupted at four polling stations in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the vast country held its second elections since a war that killed more than five million people. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A pile of presidential and legislative ballot papers sit unattended on the ground of a compound outside a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa November 29, 2011. First results emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo's chaotic elections on Tuesday but some voters were still casting their ballots in a vote tainted by confusion, violence and allegations of fraud. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A pile of presidential and legislative ballot papers sit unattended on the ground of a compound outside a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 29, 2011. First results emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo's chaotic elections on Tuesday but some voters were still casting their ballots in a vote tainted by confusion, violence and allegations of fraud. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

A man looks at results from a single polling station posted on a wall as an official makes notes in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 29, 2011. First results emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo's chaotic elections on Tuesday but some voters were still casting their ballots in a vote tainted by confusion, violence and allegations of fraud. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly

Election officials gather results from ballot papers at a polling station in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, November 29, 2011. First results emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo's chaotic elections on Tuesday but some voters were still casting their ballots in a vote tainted by confusion, violence and allegations of fraud. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly