Congo's top court has thrown out an appeal by an opposition alliance to cancel Sunday's legislative elections, clearing the way for a ruling party victory.  As Franz Wild reports for VOA from Brazzaville, voters are taking little interest in the ballot.

Election posters are pictured on a board in Kinkala, Congo, 24 June 2007

In fact, the group of 41 parties and opposition groups is boycotting the vote, because it says it will not be free and fair.

The lawyer for the alliance, Hervé Malonga, told reporters outside the courtroom that the results of the election are a foregone conclusion.

Malonga says the elections are the death of democracy in Congo.  He says the opposition group needs the support of the international community in dealing with the lack of democracy.

The main complaints are that President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's party controls the election process, and inaccurate lists of registered voters have not been corrected.

The government denies the allegations, saying an independent commission is running the elections. The commission says it treats all candidates equally.

Western diplomats say voters have little faith in the election process and have lost interest in the election.

In a pact with the oil-rich country's second largest party, Mr. Sassou-Nguesso is set to strengthen his parliamentary majority.