DRC demo held under heavy security

KINSHASA – Thousands of Congolese held an anti-government rally on Saturday over delays to elections meant to end a civil war, in a show of force watched closely by armed riot police after demonstrations turned to bloodshed last week.

Up to 20 000 students and activists carrying anti-government banners and palm fronds gathered outside by the main stadium in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa, but refused to enter as the authorities wished, protesting outside instead. They blasted out songs against President Joseph Kabila and members of his transition government, which includes former rebels under a South African-brokered peace plan designed to end years of war.Etienne Tshisekedi, head of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) who has led protests over poll delays, repeated his demand for the transition government to resign, saying it had failed.He said Congo should revive a national conference whose 3 000-odd delegates drafted a doomed constitution to establish multi-party democracy in the early 1990s when Tshisekedi led the government under his old foe, late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.A week ago, at least one person died when security forces fired bullets and teargas to disperse a protest.Local humanitarian and other groups have put the toll as high as 10.Elections had been due by June 30 but the government invoked the first of two possible six-month delays provided for under the 2003 peace deal, designed to end years of warfare estimated to have killed around four million people, mainly through war-related hunger and disease.- Nampa-ReutersThey blasted out songs against President Joseph Kabila and members of his transition government, which includes former rebels under a South African-brokered peace plan designed to end years of war.Etienne Tshisekedi, head of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) who has led protests over poll delays, repeated his demand for the transition government to resign, saying it had failed.He said Congo should revive a national conference whose 3 000-odd delegates drafted a doomed constitution to establish multi-party democracy in the early 1990s when Tshisekedi led the government under his old foe, late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.A week ago, at least one person died when security forces fired bullets and teargas to disperse a protest.Local humanitarian and other groups have put the toll as high as 10.Elections had been due by June 30 but the government invoked the first of two possible six-month delays provided for under the 2003 peace deal, designed to end years of warfare estimated to have killed around four million people, mainly through war-related hunger and disease.- Nampa-Reuters