Advance team of EU observers arrives

The first 13 of 250 European Union (EU) election observers have arrived in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said on Friday. The observers, led by French Member of Parliament Phillipe Morillon, are in the country to observe the DRC's first general elections in 45 years. The polls are scheduled for 30 July. Morillon said the observers would work with agents of political parties and other local observers to ensure free and democratic elections. He said the observer mission was pleased with preparations made so far for the elections, including the transportation of electoral materials countrywide. The observer mission, he said, was keenly following the preparations for the elections and would produce an impartial, exhaustive evaluation of the electoral process. "The mission will carry out its mandate with all its independence," he said. EU force commander details mission's mandate