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DR Congo leader's ally released | DR Congo leader's ally released |
(about 3 hours later) | |
United Nations forces have freed a key ally of DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila from a radio station using a tank after an armed stand-off. | United Nations forces have freed a key ally of DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila from a radio station using a tank after an armed stand-off. |
Nzanga Mobutu, son of late Congolese ruler Mobutu Sese Seko, was campaigning on behalf of President Kabila in Gbadolite, in the north of the country. | Nzanga Mobutu, son of late Congolese ruler Mobutu Sese Seko, was campaigning on behalf of President Kabila in Gbadolite, in the north of the country. |
Four people were reported killed in rival faction violence in the town. | Four people were reported killed in rival faction violence in the town. |
It is the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's election. The capital, Kinshasa, is reported to be calm. | |
A regional spokesperson for the United Nations force told the BBC Thursday's events are unlikely to have an impact on the presidential run-off. | |
Gbadolite is a remote location surrounded by jungle in the far north of the country. | Gbadolite is a remote location surrounded by jungle in the far north of the country. |
United Nations sources in the area say three policemen and a soldier loyal to rival presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba were killed, and one of Mr Mobutu's guards was injured. | United Nations sources in the area say three policemen and a soldier loyal to rival presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba were killed, and one of Mr Mobutu's guards was injured. |
Kabila's kingdom Bemba: rebel contender | Kabila's kingdom Bemba: rebel contender |
Gunfire erupted when troops loyal to Mr Bemba surrounded the headquarters of a radio station, while Mr Mobutu was inside, a UN spokesman said. | Gunfire erupted when troops loyal to Mr Bemba surrounded the headquarters of a radio station, while Mr Mobutu was inside, a UN spokesman said. |
It is unclear why Mr Mobutu was visiting Radio Liberty, which is owned by Mr Bemba. | It is unclear why Mr Mobutu was visiting Radio Liberty, which is owned by Mr Bemba. |
Mr Mobutu's armed guards had occupied the radio headquarters and fired at journalists, said a spokesman for Mr Bemba in a statement to AFP news agency. | Mr Mobutu's armed guards had occupied the radio headquarters and fired at journalists, said a spokesman for Mr Bemba in a statement to AFP news agency. |
Gbadolite is the Mobutu family's home town but Mr Bemba has strong support there. The two candidates were belligerents in the civil war and both still have loyal armed forces. | Gbadolite is the Mobutu family's home town but Mr Bemba has strong support there. The two candidates were belligerents in the civil war and both still have loyal armed forces. |
Prison riot | Prison riot |
The stand-off in Gbadolite comes just hours after rioting broke out at the main prison in the capital, Kinshasa. | The stand-off in Gbadolite comes just hours after rioting broke out at the main prison in the capital, Kinshasa. |
A source inside the prison and a human rights groups have told the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman that five inmates were killed in the violence. | A source inside the prison and a human rights groups have told the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman that five inmates were killed in the violence. |
Armed police restored order after several hours of rioting. The police say no-one was killed and 10 people were injured, nine of them lightly. | Armed police restored order after several hours of rioting. The police say no-one was killed and 10 people were injured, nine of them lightly. |
The unrest started after relatives were stopped from bringing food to prisoners after a breakout earlier in the week. | The unrest started after relatives were stopped from bringing food to prisoners after a breakout earlier in the week. |
Fourteen men who escaped on Monday had been sentenced to death for their role in the 2001 assassination of former President Laurent Kabila. | Fourteen men who escaped on Monday had been sentenced to death for their role in the 2001 assassination of former President Laurent Kabila. |
Sunday's run-off vote will conclude the country's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960. | Sunday's run-off vote will conclude the country's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960. |