Street clashes, election protests in Congo kill at least 44

“Leave and let us choose who we want to lead us,” Kinshasa resident Jeanne Mongo said. “Obama is leaving power, his mandate is coming to an end and he is leaving voluntarily. Why can’t he (Kabila) follow Obama’s example and cede his position to a woman?”

Human Rights Watch received credible reports from witnesses that security forces have killed at least 37 civilians, said senior Africa researcher Ida Sawyer.

“Most were killed when the security forces fired on crowds of protesters. Others were killed when the security forces burned down opposition party headquarters last night,” she said in an email.

Protesters killed at least six police officers and a supporter of Kabila’s party, Sawyer said, adding that demonstrators also burned and looted several shops and police stations.

Police spokesman Pierrot Mwanamputu said that more than 113 people were arrested in connection with Monday’s events, and will be brought to justice.

The U.N. human rights office noted reports of “excessive use of force” by both security forces and demonstrators. Both sides denied responsibility for the violence.

An organizer of the opposition protests, Joseph Olengankoy, earlier had put the toll at more than 25 people killed. Interior minister Evariste Boshab had said 17 were killed, including at least three police officers.

At least two people were killed after attacks on the headquarters of five opposition parties late Monday, the U.N. and an opposition party said.

Bruno Tshibala, spokesman for the largest opposition party, said five people were wounded in raids on four party headquarters.

“We will seek international justice,” he said.

Congo’s government spokesman, Lambert Mende, condemned the burning of opposition party buildings as well as attacks on other buildings, including two ruling party buildings and a school, by opposition protesters.

Mende called on Congolese to regain their composure and let justice do its work.

“The government can only condemn this mob justice mentality,” he said.

Kabila, who came to power after his father’s assassination in 2001, has yet to announce whether he will pursue another term in office, though the constitution prohibits it.

The violence comes amid growing fears that the election delay could lead to prolonged unrest in Congo, a nation as vast in size as Western Europe. The mineral-rich but largely impoverished country suffered back-to-back civil wars until 2003, and previous instability has drawn in armies from neighbouring countries.

Appeals for calm and restraint have been launched by the United Nations, Belgium, the U.S., France and the European Union, which also have called for a rapid organization of presidential elections.

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Associated Press videographer John Bompengo in Kinshasa and writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.

Saleh Mwanamilongo, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Street clashes, election protests in Congo kill at least 44

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