European donors and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo committed themselves on Tuesday to provide an additional €85 million ($100 million) for democratic elections in the central African country, but officials say more money is still needed.

Over 250,000 people just in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, registered to vote in the ten days following the census. In issuing the data, the United Nations Kinshasa office spokesman Stephane Dujarric specified that the rapid registration showed support and hopes of the Congolese people in the elections.

In a message addressed to the transition government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations Security Council reiterated the urgent need to prepare to conduct peaceful elections and to exercise efficient, transparent and comprehensive control over state finances, ensuring that there is no impunity for those responsible for acts of embezzlement or corruption.

Despite prevailing insecurity in the east and northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the postponement of presidential elections, the Independent Electoral Commission launched its registration campaign of 3.5 million voters in Kinshasa on Monday.

Voter registering is due to start in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 20 June, a spokesman for the country's independent electoral commission announced on Monday.

A Belgian company has been picked to organise the identification and registration of voters for the Democratic Republic of Congo's first post-transition elections, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Apollinaire Malumalu, announced on Thursday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission asked parliament on Thursday to extend the government's transition to democratic rule beyond June 2005 as scheduled, an official told IRIN.

At least 10 brigades of the new Congolese army are being prepared to help with the country's reunification process, especially during elections planned for later this year, the army's chief of general staff, Lt-Gen Kisempia Kisungilanga, told IRIN on Monday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Independent Electoral Commission announced on Friday that voter registration would only begin in early June, making it likely that the elections will not take place as scheduled.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has held talks with key political leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to lessen tension within its government and save the democratic transitional process from collapse.