REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KINSHASA -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition on Tuesday struck a blow to the credibility of an upcoming national dialogue called by President Joseph Kabila before next year's elections.

The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) has until now said it was ready to enter into a dialogue so long as it was "under the auspices of the international community".

On Tuesday UDPS leader Etienne Tshisekedi said in a statement that his party "did not feel involved in the dialogue in the form that was announced by Kabila".

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"The party is ready to examine every initiative aimed at... the peaceful transfer of power in 2016," Tshisekedi said, adding that Kabila "spoke of everything but himself" when the leader called for talks on Saturday.

The president announced plans to discuss the electoral calendar, funding and security for the vote, but did not specify when or with whom the talks would take place.

The opposition says this is just a strategy for Kabila to get round the constitution and stand for a third elected five-year term.

Kabila was first asked to take power in 2001, aged 29, to replace his murdered father, Laurent Desire-Kabila, during the Second Congo War.

Kabila's first victory at the polls in 2006 was generally accepted, but when he won elections again in 2011, the domestic opposition and foreign observers denounced widespread fraud.

The constitution does not allow him another term.

In September Tshisekedi, who was defeated by Kabila in 2011, urged all political and social forces to fight for the organisation of a "credible" electoral process in a peaceful and consensual manner with a view to a "peaceful transfer of power".

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