Attracting much press attention today is the Congolese National Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church (CENCO)'s message to the Congolese people yesterday, as the presidential election runoff draws near.

At its ordinary plenary meeting held in Kinshasa on 2-5 October, the Congolese National Episcopal Conference officially adopted a politically neutral stance toward the upcoming second presidential election round, Le Potentiel reports. In a statement issued at the conclusion of their session, the archbishops and bishops of the Episcopal Conference "urged the Congolese people to vote massively and in a responsible manner," according to the daily paper. It says they "clearly reaffirmed once again their neutrality towards candidates and political parties as such." Clearly put, Le Potentiel explains, the Congolese National Episcopal Conference supports "neither [Joseph] Kabila nor [Jean-Pierre] Bemba."

However, Le Potentiel goes on saying, "the Catholic Church's great wish is that the combined [presidential and provincial] elections on 29 October would run in an orderly and peacefully manner." Also, the CENCO "urge[d] the international community to act, when there [was] still time to do so, in order to prevent [any violence] and help ensure the elections mean a better future [for the people]; for the DR Congo is in danger," Le Potentiel adds.

Similarly, warning that "Congo is in danger", Le Phare reports that the Congolese archbishops and bishops said "no to violence as a means of acceding to or maintaining power". Noting the Congolese National Episcopal Conference in its message stressed to the world community that "the DRC is not under tutelage", Le Phare announces the organisation of "prayer sessions on 25-27 October for a successful outcome of the presidential election runoff."

Also referring to the presidential runoff, L'Observateur quotes the spokesman for the Presidential Majority Alliance (AMP), Olivier Kamitatu, as saying "Kabila will not shy away from a possible debate..." with his challenger Jean-Pierre Bemba. Kamitatu was speaking at a news conference held yesterday. He said "[The Presidential Majority Alliance], which wants a serene campaign..., is having discussions with the High Media Authority [media regulatory body] aimed at ensuring the rules of a possible [Kabila-Bemba] debate are set in advance," according to L'Observateur.

Le Phare, in a story covering Olivier Kamitatu's news conference, quotes the AMP spokesman as saying: "being attached to republican values, the political family which is supporting Joseph Kabila will respect the results of the ballot..."