BRUSSELS, JULY 28, SPA -- A SENIOR U.N. OFFICIAL SAIDFRIDAY THAT EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR CONGO’S PRESIDENTIALAND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS THIS WEEKEND ALTHOUGH VIOLENCEON THURSDAY HAD TESTED CONGOLESE AUTHORITIES, AP REPORTED. «IT WILL NOT BE PERFECT ... THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS,»ROSS MOUNTAIN, THE U.N.’S RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN CONGO,TOLD REPORTERS BY VIDEO LINK FROM CONGO’S CAPITAL KINSHASA. MOUNTAIN SAID DESPITE THE VIOLENCE DURING A RALLY ON THEPENULTIMATE DAY OF CAMPAIGNING IN KINSHASA ON THURSDAY,WHICH REPORTEDLY KILLED UP TO SEVEN PEOPLE, THE CAMPAIGNFOR CONGO’S FIRST ELECTION SINCE DECLARING INDEPENDENCE IN1960 WAS CLOSING ON A HIGH NOTE. HE SAID THE VIOLENCE COULD HAVE ERUPTED INTO MOREWIDESPREAD BATTLES BUT THAT IT WAS CONTAINED. «MANY PEOPLE PERHAPS SEE THIS WITH ALARM AS THEUNRAVELING OF THE WHOLE PROCESS, IT IS ANYTHING BUT,»MOUNTAIN SAID. «WE WERE TESTED ... AND I BELIEVE THECONGOLESE AUTHORITIES AND THE CONGOLESE LEADERS CAMETHROUGH THAT TEST.» POLICE FIRED TEAR GAS THURSDAY AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY INKINSHASA THAT TURNED VIOLENT AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT AT ACAMP FOR MILITIAMEN LOYAL TO REBEL-LEADER-TURNEDPRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA. MOUNTAIN SAID THE DEATHS WERE «ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC ANDOBVIOUSLY CAUSE FOR CONCERN, BUT SAID POLICE «PLAYED THEIRPROPER PROFESSIONAL ROLE. «THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UGLY, THAT DID NOTHAPPEN,» SAID MOUNTAIN. THE U.N. OFFICIAL OVERSEEING THE ELECTION PROCESS IN CONGOFOR 25 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS SAID THE U.N. WAS STILLUS$40 MILLION (¤31.4 MILLION) SHORT OF PAYING FOR THEEXPECTED SECOND ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. MOUNTAIN SAID HOWEVER, EVERYTHING WAS READY TO GO BEFORESUNDAY’S FIRST ROUND, WHICH WILL INVOLVE 33 PRESIDENTIALCANDIDATES AND 9,700 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR 500PARLIAMENTARY SEATS. HE SAID THE U.N. FINISHED TRAINING OF 50,000 ELECTIONOFFICIALS LAST WEEK ADDING THAT THEY WILL BE JOINED BY48,700 CIVIC, U.N. AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ELECTIONOBSERVERS SPREAD ACROSS CONGO’S 12,000 VOTING CENTERS. «THERE ARE A LOT OF PHYSICAL OBSTACLES. THE CAPACITY FORTHINGS TO GO WRONG IS FAIRLY WELL DEVELOPED HERE,»MOUNTAIN SAID.--SPA 28/07/2006 15:19 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/378731