KINSHASA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Congo's Senate on Thursday approved proposed changes to the constitution that will reduce to one round a presidential election later this year, boosting incumbent President Joseph Kabila's chances of winning.
The upper house voted overwhelmingly for the reforms -- 71 for, one against with nine abstentions -- after the National Assembly lower house adopted the proposals on Tuesday. The revision must now be approved with a 60 percent majority in a joint sitting of the two houses.
Kabila says the country cannot afford two rounds of voting but his rivals, who would most likely form an alliance against him in a run-off, have accused him of trying to facilitate his re-election and threatened protests to block the move. (Reporting by Jonny Hogg; writing by David Lewis)
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