The parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) adopted an electoral law on Tuesday, paving the way for the country's first free presidential poll since its independence in 1960.

Under the law, the National Assembly and Senate of the DRC agreed to establish a special commission to handle issues raised by lawmakers concerning allocation of parliamentary seats and the election schedule.

On Tuesday, the Independent Electoral Commission of the DRC submitted a scheme to parliament on the allocation of the parliamentary seats.

Under the scheme, Katanga province, the hometown of President Joseph Kabila, wins a lion's share of 69 seats, followed by Orientale Province, with 63 seats.

Kinshasa and Equateur Province win 58 seats each. Of the remaining seats, 57 go to Bandundu, 48 to Nord-Kivu, 40 to Kasai Occidental, 39 to Kasai Oriental, 32 to Sud-Kivu and 24 to Bas-Congo.

According to the electoral schedule submitted by the electoral commission on Tuesday, there will be 110 days from candidate registration to the start of the first round of voting.

The commission suggested that the elections begin on June 18 as long as the president signs the electoral law on Feb. 27.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)