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KINSHASA. – Opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo are planning to meet in Geneva on Thursday to choose a joint candidate for theDecember 23 presidential election.

“All opposition heads will gather in Switzerland to attend a meeting to designate a joint candidate,” one of the challengers, Freddy Matungulu, told AFP news agency.

Leading opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi would take part in the meeting, which would probably last for three days, his aide said.

Tshisekedi has emerged as the front runner to clinch the opposition ticket after former Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba and Moise Katumbi, the former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, were ruled out as candidates by election officials.

President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the country since 2011, will not be take part in the election. His refusal to step down two years ago when his mandate ended sparked violence in the country.

The ruling People’s Party For Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) has chosen Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister and loyalist to Mr Kabila, as its candidate. – BBC