Brazzaville, Congo - More than 3,000 citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fled to Brazzaville, the capital of neighbouring Congo, in anticipation of post-election upheavals following the release of results of the DRC presidential elections, held 28 November, the Congolese police said Tuesday.

'Since Friday, an unusual influx of people was observed at the Beach, in Brazzaville,' said the border police.

'These Congolese men, women and children, from the left bank of the River Congo prefer to shelter in Brazzaville, as the citizenry awaited the publication of the provisional results,' said the police source, adding that diplomats, politicians, parliamentarians (deputies and senators) and artists are among the refugees.

Since voting ended and the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) started the counting and tabulating the results, DRC citizens, believing that supporters of the main candidates -- incumbent President Joseph Kabila and main challenger, Etienne Tshisekedi -- will clash and spark violence across the country, took to their heels, taking refuge in the other Congo.

Pana 06/12/2011