Congo's election commission cancels 82 candidates in disputed December polling

FILE PHOTO: A supporter of holds a portrait of president Felix Tshisekedi of Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) as they prepare to celebrate ahead of the announcement of provisional results of the December presidential election, at their party's headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo December 31, 2023. REUTERS/Justin Makangara

KINSHASA (Reuters) -Congo's election commission said it has cancelled votes cast for 82 of the 101,000 legislative candidates in the disputed December general election over alleged fraud and other issues, amid fresh opposition calls for a re-run of the vote.

Those disqualified include contenders for national, provincial and municipal assemblies, the results of which are yet to be published amid the fallout from the Dec. 20 poll that threatens to further destabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo, a top producer of cobalt and Africa's second-largest country.