KINSHASA, 6 Feb 2006 (IRIN) - The Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed the results of a constitutional referendum held on 18 December 2005, in which 84.3 percent of the votes cast were in favour of the draft constitution, the court's president, Lwamba Bindu, said.

The court, in its decision officially announced on Friday, also rejected 17 complaints and requests for the annulment of the results from opposition parties, NGOs and other independents.

Bindu said the court's decision allows the country's electoral process to continue. It also allows President Joseph Kabila to pass a law on the new constitution, which will be implemented immediately.

Opposition parties, NGOs and independents had lodged complaints with the Supreme Court, contesting the referendum results and demanding the annulment of the results issued by the Independent Electoral Commission.

"The only complaint we did acknowledge did not hold up because of lack of proof that fraud was committed," Bindu said. "The plaintiffs did not say on what grounds they were filing such a case."