An early-morning fire in Congo's capital destroyed thousands of voting machines just 10 days before the presidential election, officials said Thursday, saying the blaze appeared to be criminal in nature but vowing that it would not disrupt the vote.

Authorities have arrested a Congolese colonel who failed to disclose that he had met with two U.N. experts just two days before they were brutally murdered, officials said Friday.

At least 50 people were killed early Saturday and more than 100 were badly burned when a tanker truck in Congo collided with another truck and, as villagers rushed to collect the leaking fuel, burst into flames, witnesses and officials said.

Congo's electoral commission says former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, a top opposition contender, cannot run in this year's presidential election because of a pending case at the International Criminal Court.

Congo's President Joseph Kabila is not running again in December's long-delayed elections, easing concerns by the opposition and international community that he would try to stay in office and positioning one of Africa's most turbulent nations for its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power.

Congo's former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba returned to the country on Wednesday to register as a presidential candidate in December's long-delayed election, more than a decade after his arrest in Belgium led to a trial at the International Criminal Court over war crimes.

Congo's President Joseph Kabila in a national address Thursday confirmed the long-delayed December election will go ahead but he still gave no indication what role he will play as the deadline for candidate announcements approaches.