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Heavy gunfire erupts in Kinshasa after election result
By: ANJAN SUNDARAMKINSHASA- Heavy gunfire erupted yesterday morning around the home of Congo's top presidential challenger, a day after fighters trapped diplomats who had to be evacuated by UN peacekeepers.
UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said the United Nations has asked European
forces to help secure the area.
The EU forces were already stationed in the region to provide
security during Congo's first multiparty presidential ballot in
more than four decades.
Fighting first broke out in the capital of Kinshasa Sunday night
as official results for the first round were announced.
The results indicated that October runoff was needed, pitting
President Joseph Kabila against ex-rebel leader and Vice President
Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Troops loyal to the two remaining candidates fought Monday
around Bemba's house in the northeastern Gombe district of
Kinshasa.
Bemba's political party said Kabila's guards attacked the house,
drawing return fire from Bemba's own guards.
Bemba's helicopter caught fire inside the compound.
The party characterised the fighting as an attempt on Bemba's
life.
A party spokesman said Bemba was evacuated from his house along
with the foreign diplomats Monday, but troops continued to attack
the candidate's house Tuesday.
"They're still attacking the residence of Vice President Bemba,"
said Dully Sesanga, Congo's planning minister and spokesman for
Bemba's party.
The envoys evacuated from Bemba's residence included the head of
the world body's 17 500-troop peacekeeping mission, William Swing,
and diplomats from the United States, France, China and other
countries.
UN spokesman Jean-Tobias Okala said all the diplomats were safe
after 150 UN troops in 20 armoured personnel took them from Bemba's
home hours after they arrived for a meeting.
It was not clear if the diplomats were ambassadors or
lower-ranking officials.
The US Embassy had no comment and others were not immediately
reachable for comment.
European Union force spokesman Sylvain Nogrette said EU troops
were deployed to allow the UN troops to extract the ambassadors
Monday and expected to be replaced over the course of the day
Tuesday by UN forces.
In a bid to quell the violence, the army issued orders Monday
for all soldiers in the Congolese capital to return to barracks and
lay down their arms.
At least two people died in fighting on Sunday.
With 16.9 million votes cast in the July 30 ballot, Kabila won
45 per cent of the votes against 20 per cent for Bemba, who is also
a vice president in Kabila's transitional administration.
The remainder of the votes cast were shared among 31 other
now-vanquished candidates.
Nampa-AP
The EU forces were already stationed in the region to provide
security during Congo's first multiparty presidential ballot in
more than four decades.Fighting first broke out in the capital of
Kinshasa Sunday night as official results for the first round were
announced.The results indicated that October runoff was needed,
pitting President Joseph Kabila against ex-rebel leader and Vice
President Jean-Pierre Bemba.Troops loyal to the two remaining
candidates fought Monday around Bemba's house in the northeastern
Gombe district of Kinshasa.Bemba's political party said Kabila's
guards attacked the house, drawing return fire from Bemba's own
guards.Bemba's helicopter caught fire inside the compound.The party
characterised the fighting as an attempt on Bemba's life.A party
spokesman said Bemba was evacuated from his house along with the
foreign diplomats Monday, but troops continued to attack the
candidate's house Tuesday."They're still attacking the residence of
Vice President Bemba," said Dully Sesanga, Congo's planning
minister and spokesman for Bemba's party.The envoys evacuated from
Bemba's residence included the head of the world body's 17
500-troop peacekeeping mission, William Swing, and diplomats from
the United States, France, China and other countries.UN spokesman
Jean-Tobias Okala said all the diplomats were safe after 150 UN
troops in 20 armoured personnel took them from Bemba's home hours
after they arrived for a meeting.It was not clear if the diplomats
were ambassadors or lower-ranking officials.The US Embassy had no
comment and others were not immediately reachable for
comment.European Union force spokesman Sylvain Nogrette said EU
troops were deployed to allow the UN troops to extract the
ambassadors Monday and expected to be replaced over the course of
the day Tuesday by UN forces.In a bid to quell the violence, the
army issued orders Monday for all soldiers in the Congolese capital
to return to barracks and lay down their arms.At least two people
died in fighting on Sunday.With 16.9 million votes cast in the July
30 ballot, Kabila won 45 per cent of the votes against 20 per cent
for Bemba, who is also a vice president in Kabila's transitional
administration.The remainder of the votes cast were shared among 31
other now-vanquished candidates.Nampa-AP
