'DRC rivals liable for riots'
2006-08-29 20:39
Brussels - Belgium's foreign minister on Tuesday blamed both the Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila and his main political rival for the deadly violence that followed the African nation's historic presidential elections.
The two factions started fighting when neither Kabila nor ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba won enough votes July 30 for an outright win. They will face off in a second round October 29.
Three days of clashes left 31 people dead until a UN-brokered cease-fire took hold in DRC capital, Kinshasa, a week ago.
Foreign minister Karel De Gucht, whose country was DRC's colonial ruler until 1960, said: "Who started the riots of last week? There are several versions.
"The reality is that they are both ready to shoot."
"When it comes down to it, both Bemba and Kabila are prepared to do whatever it takes to safeguard their position," said De Gucht.
Kabila won about 45% of the vote. Bemba won 20%.
DRC's elections were meant to end years of unrest that began shortly after independence from Belgium.
DRC's last multiparty vote for a leader was in 1961, but the winner was killed as military regimes took power.
- SAPA