Bemba holed up in SA embassy

2007-03-23 07:16

Kinshasa - Defeated Democratic Republic of Congo presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba was sheltering in the South African embassy here on Friday after a day of clashes between his guards and DRC troops.

At least two civilians were killed and a dozen wounded on Thursday in the violence in the capital Kinshasa, which had been calm since fighting after historic elections last year left about 30 people dead.

One of those killed was a worker for the UN Development Programme (UNDP), a diplomatic source said. One Belgian and one French citizen were among the wounded.

The UN peacekeeping force in the vast, war-torn central African nation said it had evacuated more than 600 people caught up in the fierce fighting in Kinshasa's Gombe district.

Fighting broke out mid-morning near Bemba's home, prompting residents to flee their homes and schools and ministries to close.

Tensions have been rising in Kinshasa since the government of President Joseph Kabila announced last week that it intended to scale down the military force protecting Bemba, a formal rebel leader.

Bemba and Azarias Ruberwa, whose rebel movements battled Kinshasa until 2003, were vice presidents during a post-war transition to democratic rule overseen by the United Nations.

The transition ended last year with the first democratic elections here in more than four decades. Kabila was inaugurated as president in December following a second round victory over Bemba.

Both Bemba and Ruberwa oppose the withdrawal of their military protection, saying a guard of 12 police officers is insufficient.

- SAPA