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Gunfire rattles DR Congo capital | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Gunfire and explosions have echoed around the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, as government troops clashed with the opposition leader's personal militia. | |
The UN Security Council has expressed "serious concern" over the fighting and has called for an immediate ceasefire. | |
Troops loyal to failed presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba have refused to disband and join the army. | |
The half-naked guards, wearing red head scarves and carrying bows and rifles, took over streets near Mr Bemba's home. | |
Ceasefire call | |
On Thursday night, Mr Bemba appealed to his soldiers to return to their positions. | |
"I ask the soldiers of the FARDC [Congolese army] not to fire on my soldiers. We must talk like politicians," he said in a message broadcast across the city on UN radio. | |
Mr Bemba, a former rebel leader, was defeated by Joseph Kabila in landmark presidential elections in October last year. | Mr Bemba, a former rebel leader, was defeated by Joseph Kabila in landmark presidential elections in October last year. |
His personal armed guard are believed to number some 200 men, according to a 2006 estimate from the UN mission in Congo. | |
Mr Bemba's party says his safety is not guaranteed if his guards disarm. | Mr Bemba's party says his safety is not guaranteed if his guards disarm. |
'Bodies' | |
The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman, in Kinshasa, says that it is not clear who started the shooting on Thursday morning. | |
Gunfire continued throughout the day and, by late evening, Mr Bemba's guards controlled a large area of the city's business district. | |
The explosions could be heard across the Congo River in the neighbouring capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville, and the city's town hall was hit by a rocket. | |
There are reports of both soldiers and civilians being killed and wounded in the fighting in Kinshasa. | |
Our correspondent says eyewitnesses have told him they have seen the bodies of five civilians and two soldiers killed in the street battles. | |
UN peacekeepers have not intervened, but our reporter saw a few UN armoured vehicles deployed near the scene of the fighting. | UN peacekeepers have not intervened, but our reporter saw a few UN armoured vehicles deployed near the scene of the fighting. |
Some 15,000 UN troops - the world's largest peacekeeping force - are in DR Congo. | |
Security | |
Mr Bemba, who was a vice-president in the transitional government and is now a senator, is entitled to 15 policemen for his protection. | Mr Bemba, who was a vice-president in the transitional government and is now a senator, is entitled to 15 policemen for his protection. |
Under an agreement signed ahead of the election, the winner of the presidential poll is committed to guarantee the loser's security. | |
Mr Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) party says their leader is in danger and wants talks about the terms of these agreements. | Mr Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) party says their leader is in danger and wants talks about the terms of these agreements. |
Last year's elections were DR Congo's first democratic elections in more than 40 years after a transitional peace process that ended a brutal five year civil war. | Last year's elections were DR Congo's first democratic elections in more than 40 years after a transitional peace process that ended a brutal five year civil war. |
Mr Kabila won 58% of the vote compared to Mr Bemba's 42%. | Mr Kabila won 58% of the vote compared to Mr Bemba's 42%. |