Congolese begin voting in presidential run-off

BUNIA, Congo, Oct 29 (Reuters) Congo began voting today in a presidential election run-off that will decide whether the vast central African country can finally end a decade of war and pillage to enter a new era of reconstruction.

The vote began at 0930 IST in the east of the former Belgian colony where there is a one hour time difference with the west.

Voting will begin in the west, including the capital Kinshasa, at 1030 IST.

About 25 million people are registered to vote in the run-off between incumbent Joseph Kabila and former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, the top two candidates in the first round held on July 30.

Kabila received 45 per cent of the votes in the first round and is expected to win the election, the first democratic poll in Democratic Republic of Congo for 40 years.

The run-off will be accompanied by provincial elections but results are not expected for three weeks.

The poll is meant to be the final step in a peace process after a 1998-2003 war, the bloodiest conflict since World War Two, that has left the country devastated and poor despite huge mineral riches.

More than 4 million people died in a humanitarian catastrophe unleashed by the war and 1,200 people still die every day mostly from hunger and disease.

REUTERS SP BD1017