The African Union has called on Democratic Republic of Congo to suspend the release of the final results of its disputed presidential election due to its doubts over the provisional results.
The rare move from the group injects fresh uncertainty into the post-election process, which was meant to usher in the country's first democratic transfer of power in 59 years of independence, but has been mired in controversy since the December 30 vote.
The final tally is scheduled to be released by the election commission once the constitutional court has ruled on challenges to the provisional results on Friday, but the union called for this to be postponed following a meeting in Addis Ababa.
"The Heads of State and Government attending the meeting concluded that there were serious doubts on the conformity of the provisional results as proclaimed by the National Independent Electoral Commission, with the verdict of the ballot boxes," it said in a statement.
A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was unprecedented. "I cannot remember another instance where the AU called for a suspension of certification of results."
Several international media outlets reported on Tuesday that leaked voting data showed that runner-up Martin Fayulu had definitely won at the polls on December 30.
Britain's Financial Times, as well as France's RFI and TV5 Monde, said they were leaked full voting data - which had not yet been released - and that analysis showed the man announced the winner by the electoral commission last week, Felix Tshisekedi, actually lost.
Fayulu has cried foul, and appealed to the country's highest court to order a recount, a matter it is now deliberating.
Fayulu has suggested Tshisekedi and President Joseph Kabila did a back-room deal after early results showed Kabila's chosen successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, finished third.
Election officials deny the results were rigged.
The dispute risks further destabilising the volatile Central African country, where previous elections have been followed by violence.
Congo is the world's leading miner of cobalt, used in electric car batteries and mobile phones, and Africa's biggest copper producer. It also mines gold and diamonds.
But unrest, disorganisation and corruption have left many in poverty and dissatisfied with Kabila's rule.
With dpa
