Two die as protesters riot about DRC election

Kinshasa - At least two people were killed when hundreds of opposition supporters rioted in a southern mining town in Congo on Tuesday during a protest against plans to delay long-awaited elections.

Protesters hurled rocks at police, set up barricades and burned down the offices of two political parties in Mbuji Mayi, about 900km south-east of Kinshasa.

Residents and police sources in Mbuji Mayi, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of people to mine for diamonds but lacks many basic services, said police opened fire on crowds of opposition supporters roaming around town.

"Two demonstrators were killed and another five were injured but it also seems a policeman may have been burned alive," Provincial Governor Dominique Kanku said from Mbuji Mayi.

Many of Congo's 60 million people are increasingly disillusioned
At least five people were injured before the army quelled the disturbances, which underscore mounting frustration over plans to delay the first democratic polls in more than four decades.

Many of Congo's 60 million people are increasingly disillusioned as two years of relative peace have failed to bring presidential polls or economic progress.

"The (opposition) UDPS supporters went out into the streets at four this morning and set up barricades, burned tyres, started throwing stones and attacked three parties' headquarters," Kanku said.

"The army was later deployed.

"The shooting has stopped and things have calmed down but transport has been paralysed and only military vehicles are moving around now," a resident added.

The presidential polls were set for June but government wrangling, legislative delays and logistical hitches have meant voting will be postponed.

When a potential election delay was first mooted in January this year, riots erupted in Kinshasa among people weary of war and suspicious of politicians who many believe are dragging their heels on the vote to protect their own interests.

The UDPS, a long-time opposition party that has refused to join the transitional government, says failure to meet the original June deadline for polls means changes are needed. They have also called for demonstrations today in Kinshasa, where the party has a strong support base. - Reuters

  • This article was originally published on page 9 of The Cape Times on May 18, 2005

Cape Times

Published on the Web by IOL on 2005-05-18 07:18:00


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