Congo president re-elected in first round of voting

Hours after the declaration of presidential election results in Congo on Thursday announcing incumbent president Sassou Nguesso victor, opposition candidate General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko has called for a popular uprising.

Mokoko also directed his remarks at Congo's armed forces: "We are a public and republican force in service of the people toward whom we have duties and obligations".

Sassou Nguesso changed the constitution in November past year, removing a two-term limit on presidential mandates, and paving the way for his third election victory.

Residents said Brazzaville, capital of the oil-producing Central African nation where Sassou Nguesso has ruled for all but five of the past 37 years, was quiet but tense as police and soldiers patrolled the streets.

According to "The Guardian", the president's opponents expressed their concern on the authenticity of the results and rejected them, saying there was "massive fraud" and calling for a recount.

Final results from the electoral commission are expected as early as Wednesday afternoon amid heightened tensions in southern Brazzaville, an opposition stronghold.

Kolelas' spokesman Manangou said security forces had stormed the candidate's campaign offices on Tuesday, hurling tear gas cannisters and causing a stampede that left one person dead. A government source said they would remain suspended until after the official results were announced.

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A French journalist was present but was unable to confirm the death.

The opposition has yet to release its own vote tallies.

Washington and the European Union called for calm as communications lines were cut for a third day.

Unemployment hit 34% in 2013, the last data available, and stood at 60% for 15 to 24-year-olds.

Mr Sassou Nguesso served as president from 1979 to 1992 and returned to power in 1997 following a civil war. The IMF fears "domestic instability" without progress in the battle to eliminate poverty.

The former peace and security adviser of President Sassou Nguesso, in an audio recording published online, called on Congolese to "rise up and end the arbitrariness to reclaim your stolen and confiscated votes".