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Mediators try to avert DRC violence

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- A team of international mediators worked to prevent violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of the release of election results, officials said.

Opposition supporters have warned they would reject President Joseph Kabila's expected victory, alleging widespread fraud and intimidation in the Nov. 28 vote.

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With about 90 percent of the vote tallied, Kabila has 49 percent and his main rival, Etienne Tshisekedi has 33 percent, the BBC said. The official results were to be released Thursday.

Riot police have been patrolling the capital of Kinshasa and tear gas has been used to scatter Tshisekedi supporters.

A mediation team, formed with the support of the election commission and the U.N. mission in the DRC, met with Kabila and Tshisekedi to try to alleviate tensions, the team's chairman, Muslim cleric Cheikh Abdallah Mangala, told the BBC.

"Each of them will accept what comes out of the ballot box, as we have asked them," he said.

Tshisekedi added the condition that the election commission publish full details from each polling station, including the number of votes candidates received and the number of ballots cast, Mangala said. The commission agreed.

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Human Rights Watch said at least 18 people died and more than 100 already have been wounded in election violence.

Opposition leaders have promised mass protests if Kabila is declared the winner, Voice of America reported. Local leaders who support Tshisekedi said they've concluded the vote was rigged and were ready to protest the results.

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