U.N. calls for secure DRC elections

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- With violence on the mind of the United Nations, the Security Council called on the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure next month's election is peaceful.

The U.N. Security Council said the DRC government was solely responsible for ensuring that next month's presidential and legislative elections are fair and free of violence.

Roger Meece, U.N. special envoy for the DRC, said the Nov. 28 election should be open to the media and afford all participants with the opportunity for constructive political debate, the U.N. News agency reports.

The Security Council also urged all political parties to respect the electoral process and ensure campaigns are conducted peacefully.

DRC police in early September used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters marching on an electoral commission building.

Recent DRC conflicts were linked to tensions between incumbent President Joseph Kabila People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress.

Officials at the country's Independent National Electoral Commission said more than 31 million people, about 6 million more than in 2006, registered for this year's vote.

The November election will be the country's second in its 50-year history.