US urges parties in Congo to accept Kabila win

RIGA, Nov 29 (Reuters) The White House congratulated Joseph Kabila today on his presidential election win in the Democratic Republic of Congo and urged all parties to respect the outcome of the run-off vote as legitimate.

Congo's Supreme Court this week rejected former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba's challenge to the results of an October 29 run-off against Kabila, confirming the country's first elected leader in 40 years as president.

Both candidates signed agreements before the election promising to abide by the result, but their forces have clashed twice since August in the capital Kinshasa, raising fears the country could slide back towards war. Foreign diplomats in Kinshasa have called for calm.

''We congratulate President Kabila on his victory in the run-off election and urge all parties to uphold the ruling by the Congolese Supreme Court,'' White House press secretary Tony Snow said in a statement issued from Latvia, where President George W Bush is attending a NATO summit.

''Despite enormous logistical difficulties complicated by torrential rain, the voting process was peaceful and turnout was high,'' Snow said, adding that international observers had deemed the election process successful.

REUTERS PDM VV1504