Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) to Start Publishing Results on August 7, 2006

Do to growing unrest and speculation, it appears that the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) will start publishing results from polling stations as soon as they come in. Sisa Ngombane, South African Ambassador to the DRC suggested that the CEI take the initiative and start publishing the results as opposed to waiting until the 20th of August.

The BBC reported today that there is increasing irregularities in the counting of the votes. Human Rights watch said "foreign observers' work in the eastern region of Ituri was being severely restricted." Also, in other parts of the East according to Human rights Watch large number of ballots are being dumped and in Kinshasa reporters have observed a substantial number of ballots being burned. The Carter Center said that each day new irregularities are being reported and each new report "chips away" at the integrity of the voting process.