DR Congo election results delayed

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila appears headed for re-election with most of the votes counted, election officials said.

Results from some 90 percent of polling places show Kabila in the lead with nearly 50 percent of the vote followed by Etienne Tshisekedi with 33 percent, Voice of America reported Wednesday.

Election officials said publication of official results have been delayed until Thursday due to technical difficulties.

The delay means President Kabila remains in office past the end of his term, which expired at midnight Tuesday.

"As we haven't yet been able to receive the tally sheets from all 60,000 polling stations in the country, we decided to push back publication by 48 hours," spokesman Matthieu Mpita of the National Independent Electoral Commission said.

Supporters of Tshisekedi told the BBC their candidate is the winner. They said the election was marred by fraud, including pre-marked ballots.

It was only the second election since the 1998-2003 war ended in DR Congo.