DRC opposition chief wins vote as rival, church cry foul

Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was on Thursday declared winner of DR Congo's presidential election, but his victory was dismissed by the runner-up and questioned by the Catholic church, clouding the vote's legitimacy and hopes of peace.

In a pre-dawn announcement, election officials named Tshisekedi, son of the country's long-term opposition leader, provisional winner of the troubled vote to replace President Joseph Kabila.

The news brought thousands of supporters onto the streets while others who had backed his opposition rival Martin Fayulu came out in protest. Four people died in unrest.

Fayulu, who came a close second, denounced the result as an "electoral coup." The Democratic Republic of Congo's influential Catholic church also said Tshisekedi's victory did not tally with data collected by its own monitors.

"These results have nothing to do with the truth at the ballot box," Fayulu told Radio France International.

"They have stolen the Congolese people's victory and the people will never accept that."
The African Union said it "took note" of the result and warned any dispute over the outcome should be "resolved peacefully."