KABILA

KINSHASA (AP):

President Joseph Kabila's bodyguards fought deadly gun battles with army troops loyal to his main campaign rival yesterday outside the offices where results from Congo's historic elections were to be announced.

Kemal Saiki, a spokesman for the 17,500-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo, said at least one soldier loyal to the ex-insurgent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, died.

Ahead of the final results from Congo's first elections in four decades, Kabila remained short of the majority of votes needed for an outright win - but many votes had not yet been certified and released.