KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's prime minister says he has resigned as part of a political deal agreed to last month that delays presidential elections.

Matata Ponyo said Monday that he has stepped down in accordance with the Oct. 18 agreement to form a united interim government. Congo's presidential elections have been delayed from November to April 2018.

Congo's largest opposition party boycotted the talks that led to this agreement, and rejected the deal, which paves the way for opposition members who agreed to the delay to be given government positions.

President Joseph Kabila's term was supposed to end in December. Critics accuse him of delaying the vote to stay in power. The electoral commission says it cannot organize an election before 2018.

Dozens died in the capital in September protesting the delays.