UPDATE - Republic of Congo votes in parliamentary, local polls

REVISES LEDE, ADDS REMARKS FROM PRESIDENT, ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICIAL

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Vote counting is underway in the Republic of Congo’s parliamentary and local elections conducted Sunday in which the ruling party is expected to win.

The polls opened around 8 a.m. (0700GMT) and vote counting started when they closed at 6 p.m. (1700GMT).

More than 2,000 candidates are running for 151 assembly seats, according to the country's directorate general of electoral affairs.

The country's leading opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), fielded 45 candidates, while the Union of Humanist Democrats (UDH-YUKI), another opposition party, fronted 32 candidates, the directorate said.

With 101 lawmakers, the Congolese Labor Party of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has ruled the country for 37 years, holds the majority of lawmakers in the assembly.

The councilors elected in Sunday’s polls will in turn choose 72 senators in the first chamber of parliament.

At least 3,000 observers from national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) are observing the elections.

As part of the elections, the government announced the closure of the borders until 6 p.m. local time.

-Electoral commission 'satisfied'

Henri Bouka, president of the Independent National Electoral Commission, said he “felt a sense of satisfaction with the elections.”

Reports from various polling stations indicated that by 2 p.m., the ballot boxes were already almost full of ballot papers in both legislative and local elections, he told reporters.

Bouka said efforts were made to guarantee a peaceful election throughout the national territory.

He urged disgruntled candidates to seek legal redress to their concerns.

“Those who proclaim on social networks that they would reject the results, I advise them to exercise restraint and use established mechanisms to defend their interests,” he said.

He said polling was conducted in all 151 electoral districts in the legislative elections and in the 123 constituencies for local elections.

First results are expected to be released later in the week, according to the commission.

Earlier, President Nguesso cast his vote at midday at the headquarters of the fifth district, Ouenze, according to the presidency.

“Holding elections on a regular basis is a good sign of the democratic process from which we pick lessons to move forward,” the president told reporters.

“I think we are on the right track,” he said, adding the electoral campaign had taken place in a peaceful environment with no major incidents.

Nguesso, 78, hailed youth for showing enthusiasm to participate in the country’s politics.

“I am very happy to observe this movement. This means that young people are gradually becoming aware of their responsibilities and their role in their future. All this must happen with a lot of responsibility and seriousness,” he said.