This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-16314871

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
DR Congo police block entry to Tshisekedi inauguration DR Congo police block entry to Tshisekedi inauguration
(about 2 hours later)
Troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo are blocking entry to a stadium where the main opposition leader plans to inaugurate himself as president. Troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have blocked entry to a stadium where the main opposition leader plans to inaugurate himself as president.
Etienne Tshisekedi has rejected the official victory of incumbent President Joseph Kabila in November's elections.Etienne Tshisekedi has rejected the official victory of incumbent President Joseph Kabila in November's elections.
The BBC's Thomas Hubert in the capital, Kinshasa, says there is a large security presence around the stadium. A BBC reporter says police used stun grenades to disperse people attempting to get to the stadium in the capital.
But Mr Tshisekedi's spokesman told the BBC the UDPS leader still intended to go ahead with the inauguration. But Mr Tshisekedi's spokesman told the BBC he still intended to go ahead with the inauguration.
President Kabila was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday after being declared the official winner with 49% of the vote, compared to Mr Tshisekedi's 32%.President Kabila was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday after being declared the official winner with 49% of the vote, compared to Mr Tshisekedi's 32%.
Western observers denounced the presidential results as seriously flawed, but the election commission - backed by the African Union - hailed the polls a success.Western observers denounced the presidential results as seriously flawed, but the election commission - backed by the African Union - hailed the polls a success.
The US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says police have killed at least 24 people since the disputed polls.The US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says police have killed at least 24 people since the disputed polls.
Tanks, water canon and RPGs Tanks
On Thursday, Mr Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress party sent out what appeared to be official invitations on presidential letterheads, urging journalists and diplomats to attend the swearing-in ceremony on Friday morning.On Thursday, Mr Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress party sent out what appeared to be official invitations on presidential letterheads, urging journalists and diplomats to attend the swearing-in ceremony on Friday morning.
But our reporter says he was refused entry to the stadium and all the roads around Mr Tshisekedi's residence in the capital have been cordoned off. But the BBC's Thomas Hubert in the capital, Kinshasa says he was refused entry to the stadium and all the roads around Mr Tshisekedi's residence have been cordoned off.
According to the AFP news agency, police have used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered around the house.According to the AFP news agency, police have used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered around the house.
The police, military and Mr Kabila's elite Republican Guard have all been deployed around Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, which is an opposition stronghold, our correspondent says.The police, military and Mr Kabila's elite Republican Guard have all been deployed around Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, which is an opposition stronghold, our correspondent says.
Tanks, water cannon and soldiers armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades can also be seen.Tanks, water cannon and soldiers armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades can also be seen.
The police have made some arrests as people try to get into the stadium, our reporter says. The police fired stun grenades and made some arrests as people walked towards the stadium and the Republican Guard confiscated the BBC's recording equipment, our reporter said.
A few hundred people are walking towards the stadium on one of the city's main streets, but are proceeding with caution, he adds.
Diplomats have been encouraging dialogue over the disputed poll, but dozens of people have died in clashes in Kinshasa and other opposition strongholds since election day.Diplomats have been encouraging dialogue over the disputed poll, but dozens of people have died in clashes in Kinshasa and other opposition strongholds since election day.
November's polls were the second in DR Congo since the 1998-2003 war, which claimed an estimated four million lives.November's polls were the second in DR Congo since the 1998-2003 war, which claimed an estimated four million lives.
On Thursday, the election commission halted the counting of votes from the parliamentary poll, saying it needed international help to complete counting following allegations of rigging.On Thursday, the election commission halted the counting of votes from the parliamentary poll, saying it needed international help to complete counting following allegations of rigging.
Mr Tshisekedi led the campaign for democracy under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko but these were the first elections he has contested.Mr Tshisekedi led the campaign for democracy under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko but these were the first elections he has contested.
He boycotted the last poll in 2006, organised under the auspices of the United Nations, after claiming they had been rigged in advance.He boycotted the last poll in 2006, organised under the auspices of the United Nations, after claiming they had been rigged in advance.
They were marred by weeks of street battles led by supporters of the losing candidate, Jean-Pierre Bemba.They were marred by weeks of street battles led by supporters of the losing candidate, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
He is now on trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in neighbouring Central African Republic.He is now on trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in neighbouring Central African Republic.
DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but hardly has any infrastructure, such as roads and electricity.DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but hardly has any infrastructure, such as roads and electricity.
Inside DR Congo Inside DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo covers 2,344,858 square km of land in the centre of Africa, making it the 12th largest country in the world.The Democratic Republic of Congo covers 2,344,858 square km of land in the centre of Africa, making it the 12th largest country in the world.
DR Congo has abundant mineral wealth. It has more than 70% of the world's coltan, used to make vital components of mobile phones, 30% of the planet's diamond reserves and vast deposits of cobalt, copper and bauxite. This wealth however has attracted looters and fuelled the country's civil war. Despite the country's size, transport infrastructure is very poor. Of 153,497km of roads, only 2,794km are paved. There are around 4,000 km of railways but much is narrow-gauge track and in poor condition. Waterways are vital to transport goods but journeys can take months to complete. Overcrowded boats frequently capsize, while DR Congo has more plane crashes than any other country. With an estimated population of 71 million, DR Congo is the fourth most populous country in Africa. Some 35% of the population live in cities and the capital Kinshasa is by far the largest, with more than 8 million inhabitants. DR Congo has around 200 ethnic identities with the majority of people belonging to the Kongo, Luba and Mongo groups. Given its size and resources DR Congo should be a prosperous country, but years of war, corruption and economic mismanagement have left it desperately poor. In 2011 it lags far behind in many key development indicators, with average life expectancy increasing by only 2 years since 1980, after a period when it actually fell during the mid 1990s.DR Congo has abundant mineral wealth. It has more than 70% of the world's coltan, used to make vital components of mobile phones, 30% of the planet's diamond reserves and vast deposits of cobalt, copper and bauxite. This wealth however has attracted looters and fuelled the country's civil war. Despite the country's size, transport infrastructure is very poor. Of 153,497km of roads, only 2,794km are paved. There are around 4,000 km of railways but much is narrow-gauge track and in poor condition. Waterways are vital to transport goods but journeys can take months to complete. Overcrowded boats frequently capsize, while DR Congo has more plane crashes than any other country. With an estimated population of 71 million, DR Congo is the fourth most populous country in Africa. Some 35% of the population live in cities and the capital Kinshasa is by far the largest, with more than 8 million inhabitants. DR Congo has around 200 ethnic identities with the majority of people belonging to the Kongo, Luba and Mongo groups. Given its size and resources DR Congo should be a prosperous country, but years of war, corruption and economic mismanagement have left it desperately poor. In 2011 it lags far behind in many key development indicators, with average life expectancy increasing by only 2 years since 1980, after a period when it actually fell during the mid 1990s.