DR Congo: Several deaths in anti-Kabila protests

DR Congo: Several deaths in anti-Kabila protests

At least five people have been killed in widespread protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, United Nations sources say.

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Protesters are demanding that President Joseph Kabila - whose expected term of office expired more than a year ago - should step down.

Police have used teargas to disperse protesters in the capital, where UN peacekeepers have been deployed.

Similar demonstrations three weeks ago led to a number of deaths.

A spokesman for the UN mission to the country said 33 people were injured in Sunday's clashes and that dozens had been arrested.

Jean-Baptise Sondji, a former minister, told AFP a 16-year-old girl had died in the protests.

"An armoured car passed in front of the church. They began firing live bullets... a girl who was at the left side door of the church was hit," he said.

The widespread marches had been called for by the country's Catholic Church, which appealed for a large but peaceful demonstration.

The Congolese authorities, however, banned the marches and no formal permission was given. On Saturday evening, internet access in the capital Kinshasa was cut.

Police warned that they would not tolerate "any attempt to disturb public order."

 

Credit: The BBC 

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