DR Congo's Kabila admits vote flaws but defends re-election

DR Congo President Joseph Kabila admitted Monday there were flaws in the elections that handed him a new five-year term but rejected a report that they lacked credibility. The assessment was Kabila's first public statement since the bitterly disputed November 28 vote, whose outcome sparked violent protests in the capital and was criticised by international observers and the country's powerful church. "Were there mistakes, errors? Definitely, like in any other election, be it on the continent or otherwise," Kabila, in power since 2001, told a news conference in Kinshasa with journalists including the BBC. "But does it put in doubt the credibility of the elections? I don't think so." In a damning report on the polls, international observers from the Carter Center, a non-profit group founded by former US president Jimmy Carter, said Saturday it had found irregularities ranging from the loss of some 3,000 polling stations' results to "impossibly high" turnout rates in Kabila strongholds. It said the count was so flawed the results "lack credibility". While schools were still closed in Kinshasa Monday, traffic in the capital had largely returned to normal after a forceful crackdown on protests following the result announcement Friday had reduced the usual bustle of the sprawling city of 10 million people to an eerie quiet. At least four people died in the unrest. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe warned Sunday that the situation in the country was "explosive". Human rights groups and residents of neighbourhoods where Tshisekedi enjoys strong support have accused security forces of raiding houses and randomly arresting young men, using excessive force against detainees and stealing money and cell phones from locals. Kabila insisted the country was calm, and defended the actions of the security forces. "You've definitely seen violence from the people who have tried to loot shops in town, you've definitely seen violence from the opposition. Have you seen violence from the security forces? I don't think so," he said. "If we were to have violence from the security forces -- you'll agree with me -- that we could have had tens if not hundreds of deaths. It's not the case. The Congo is a democracy." While schools were still closed in Kinshasa Monday, traffic in the capital had largely returned to normal after a forceful crackdown on protests following the result announcement Friday had reduced the usual bustle of the sprawling city of 10 million people to an eerie quiet. At least four people died in the unrest. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe warned Sunday that the situation in the country was "explosive". Human rights groups and residents of neighbourhoods where Tshisekedi enjoys strong support have accused security forces of raiding houses and randomly arresting young men, using excessive force against detainees and stealing money and cell phones from locals. Kabila insisted the country was calm, and defended the actions of the security forces. "You've definitely seen violence from the people who have tried to loot shops in town, you've definitely seen violence from the opposition. Have you seen violence from the security forces? I don't think so," he said. "If we were to have violence from the security forces -- you'll agree with me -- that we could have had tens if not hundreds of deaths. It's not the case. The Congo is a democracy."