Provisional results are not expected for five more days and there are fears unofficial  and possible fake claims could compromise security after what was a chaotic poll.

Ahead of voting, opposition activists expressed fears that government would leak early results showing ruling party candidate Emmanuel Shadary in the lead.

However, on early results from polling centres, he trails opposition figures Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi significantly.

The internet has been cut off in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma to prevent any details being posted.

The candidates will, however, find other means of informing their supporters.

The first-past-the-post winner will be announced on January 15, with the DRC’s new president scheduled to be inaugurated three days later.

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The poll which will produce the first democratic change of president in the central African giant has been marred by delays and the postponement of voting effectively disenfranchising more than 1,2 million electors in three cities.

Voting has been peaceful as more than 45-million people go to the polls.

Technical problems caused a deal of several hours in Congo’s second city Lubumbashi.

Heavy rain caused a slow start in Kinshasa.

Voting there, President Joseph Kabila answered critics that the poll might be rigged.

“Of course the elections will be free and fair. They are free and fair. My only concern is that we have this very heavy rain and probably voter turnout might be low, but hopefully the skies will clear, and the voters will turn out in numbers,” he said

There were long queues at polling stations in Goma, the eastern capital and an opposition stronghold.

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In South Africa government’s  has expressed concern over the situation in the DRC following protests that resulted in several arrests in Pretoria.

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisikedi called for peaceful demonstrations after President Joseph Kabila  refused to step down when his two term constitutional limit expired yesterday.

Police and soldiers fired live ammunition in Kinshasa, as opposition activists burned tyres, threw stones and attacked an office of the ruling party.

Violence was also reported in the southern city of Lubumbashi, where at least two deaths were reported: one protestor and a policeman who was lynched by an angry crowd.

Human Rights Watch says four people died in protests in the eastern city of Goma.

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