Few Vote in Republic of Congo Poll

Voters in the oil-rich Republic of Congo showed little enthusiasm Sunday for a presidential vote in which the central African nation’s leader was running virtually unopposed for a seven-year term.

Nevertheless, the poll, the first in a decade, was seen as an important step toward lasting peace after a brief but bloody civil war in 1997 that drove as much as a third of the former French colony’s 2.8 million people from their homes and left about 10,000 dead.

But the lack of any serious challenger to President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, a Marxist who ruled from 1979 to 1991 and seized power again during the ’97 war, undermined the credibility of the vote.

Sassou-Nguesso’s two main opponents, both living in exile, had been barred from running, and the only other heavyweight contender pulled out Friday, alleging irregularities.

Turnout was light, and even at the polling station where the president cast his ballot--and where his portrait stared down at voters from the wall--it was estimated at just 30%.

Some people said there was confusion over registration. The first dozen voters at one station were turned back because their names were not on a list. “I registered here but my name is not listed, so that’s it. I’m going home,” said an opposition supporter.

There were no reports of violent incidents. Borders were closed for the day and cars banned from the streets of Brazzaville, the capital.

Joaquin Miranda, the head of the European Union’s observer team, said it was too early to say whether the poll had been fair overall, but he added that there was some merit in opposition claims about a lack of transparency.

After withdrawing Friday, ex-Prime Minister Andre Milongo urged his supporters to boycott the vote but avoid trouble.