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DR Congo leader issues ultimatum | DR Congo leader issues ultimatum |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has given the forces of his presidential rival 48 hours to leave Kinshasa. | The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has given the forces of his presidential rival 48 hours to leave Kinshasa. |
Mr Kabila has been declared the provisional winner of recent polls. | Mr Kabila has been declared the provisional winner of recent polls. |
However, his rival, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has complained of fraud. The Supreme Court is to rule on the claims shortly. | However, his rival, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has complained of fraud. The Supreme Court is to rule on the claims shortly. |
Mr Bemba, a former rebel leader, has an armed guard of around 600 men, the UN says. Some of his men have reportedly started leaving their base in Kinshasa. | |
The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in Kinshasa says tension is high in the capital. | The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in Kinshasa says tension is high in the capital. |
Soldiers of the Congolese army are now deployed at strategic points and this has created fear of further fighting, he says. | Soldiers of the Congolese army are now deployed at strategic points and this has created fear of further fighting, he says. |
Security forces loyal to the two men clashed in August, leaving at least 23 people dead in the capital, Kinshasa. | |
The capital is a stronghold of Mr Bemba. | |
UN mandate | UN mandate |
The armoured vehicles of the UN peacekeeping force and European troops are also patrolling the city, but a UN spokesman said disarming soldiers by force was not part of its mandate. | The armoured vehicles of the UN peacekeeping force and European troops are also patrolling the city, but a UN spokesman said disarming soldiers by force was not part of its mandate. |
On Tuesday, a protest by Mr Bemba's supporters outside the Supreme Court led to violence. | On Tuesday, a protest by Mr Bemba's supporters outside the Supreme Court led to violence. |
Mr Bemba has challenged the election result in courtThe court was set on fire and its hearings had to be suspended. | Mr Bemba has challenged the election result in courtThe court was set on fire and its hearings had to be suspended. |
The court must still confirm the provisional results, which gave Mr Kabila 58% of the vote. | The court must still confirm the provisional results, which gave Mr Kabila 58% of the vote. |
A spokesman for Mr Bemba said he was unaware of any ultimatum for the guards to leave. | A spokesman for Mr Bemba said he was unaware of any ultimatum for the guards to leave. |
As a vice-president, Mr Bemba, is allowed to have 100 armed guards. | As a vice-president, Mr Bemba, is allowed to have 100 armed guards. |
But one Western diplomat told the AFP news agency Mr Bemba had agreed to move some guards to Maluku, 80km (50 miles) east of Kinshasa. | But one Western diplomat told the AFP news agency Mr Bemba had agreed to move some guards to Maluku, 80km (50 miles) east of Kinshasa. |
The elections were supposed to draw a line under a five-year conflict in which some four million people died. | The elections were supposed to draw a line under a five-year conflict in which some four million people died. |
The polls were organised under the terms of a 2002 peace deal that drew in the armies of nine other African countries. | The polls were organised under the terms of a 2002 peace deal that drew in the armies of nine other African countries. |
The world's biggest peacekeeping force - some 17,000 men - is in DR Congo to prevent unrest. | The world's biggest peacekeeping force - some 17,000 men - is in DR Congo to prevent unrest. |