20120715
AP
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — More than two million voters are called to the polls in the Republic of Congo to elect a new parliament.

The ruling party of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and its allies appear poised to hold their majority in Sunday's vote.

The election of the country's 139 lawmakers is monitored by some 60 international observers. The national election commission says some 6,000 polling stations across the Central African nation will be open throughout the day.

Sassou-Nguesso first ruled the country of some 4 million people from 1979 until a 1992 election defeat, and seized power again in 1997 with help from Angolan troops.

The United Nations ranks the country — the small neighbor to the north of Central African giant Congo — 137th out of 190 nations in its broad index measuring income and living conditions.