DRC army told to 'stay indoors'

2006-07-19 13:54

Nairobi - A committee of diplomats monitoring the forthcoming landmark polls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called on the government to confine its army to barracks during polling on 30 July, said reports on Wednesday.

It was reported that the group of mainly donor countries made the request as public perception increasingly viewed the security forces as the main culprits of violence in the increasingly chaotic election campaigns.

No local newspapers were published on Tuesday in protest at the murder of a journalist killed by gunmen reportedly in military uniform on July 08.

There was growing concern at the army's use of live bullets in various parts of the country to break up opposition rallies.

Govt to discuss security concerns

Seven people were killed at an opposition rally in the eastern town of Mugogo, forcing the candidate to flee into neighbouring Uganda.

The donors' group - which was footing the whopping $480m bill of the largest poll ever supported by the United Nations - had requested a meeting with DRC President Joseph Kabila and his four vice-presidents to discuss security concerns ahead of the polls.

Kabila's 15 000-strong presidential guard would also be expected to stay in their barracks during voting.

Underpaid and barely trained in law enforcement, the Congolese armed forces were better known as racketeers and guns for hire.

Observers said that most of the 33 presidential candidates had been unable to start campaigning due to harassment from supporters of more powerful candidates.

The elections were expected to formally end a three-year transitional period after the end of a bloody five-year civil war in 2003 that left some three million people dead and involved the armies of seven African nations.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA