BUKAVU (DRC), Oct 6: The head of the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kiuv province (MONUC), Jean Paul, has suggested that there should be a referendum on the constitution before the country goes to the polls scheduled for next year.

Talking to Pakistani journalists at a dinner hosted by Pakistan Battalion-II at the Panzi camp on Wednesday night, Mr Paul said the Democratic Republic of Congo had a transitional constitution, but pointed out that not all political parties and groups had adopted the document.

He said the referendum had been slated for next month but it would be ‘difficult’ to meet the deadline as a significant part of the DRC’s 56 million population had yet to be enrolled as voters.