The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) published on Tuesday September 19 2006, the new electoral calendar which confirms the date of the presidential election run-off on October 29 and the start of the election campaign for October 13 at midnight.

The provincial elections will take place, as planned, on the same date with the presidential run-off. Following a press release issued by IEC, the campaign for the provincial elections will last one month, beginning September 28 2006, at midnight.

With respect to the deployment of the electoral material, IEC further said: "the deployment of the electoral kit for the two votes (including the ballot papers for the provincial elections) is proceeding in the provinces, territories, other localities and centers of deployment. 41,000 electoral kits have been thus far received from South Africa and more than half have been distributed throughout the country. The operation is under way and will require nearly 100 aircraft's return flights and 180 helicopter's return flights."

About the financial concerns over the funding of the presidential election run-off, "we applaud the commitment by the International Community and partners whose efforts helped to reduce the budgetary deficit meaningfully. Currently the financial deficit roughly amounts to 8 million dollars; the donor community has been sensitized to fill the gap", indicates the press release.

IEC thanks the International Community, the Donor Community and the Congolese National Police for their "remarkable assistance "that was very much instrumental in helping it to fulfill its mission, notably "organizing the free and democratic elections in all transparency, responsibility and fairness."