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| Deadly DR Congo clashes over Joseph Kabila's future | Deadly DR Congo clashes over Joseph Kabila's future |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| At least four people have been killed in protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo calling for President Joseph Kabila to step down next year. | At least four people have been killed in protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo calling for President Joseph Kabila to step down next year. |
| The protests continued on Tuesday in the capital, Kinshasa, and internet connections were blocked following Monday's clashes between opposition supporters and security forces. | The protests continued on Tuesday in the capital, Kinshasa, and internet connections were blocked following Monday's clashes between opposition supporters and security forces. |
| Demonstrators say government plans for a census are a ploy to delay elections. | Demonstrators say government plans for a census are a ploy to delay elections. |
| Mr Kabila is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. | Mr Kabila is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. |
| The government admits next year's elections could be delayed, but says the census is vital to ensure free and fair elections. | The government admits next year's elections could be delayed, but says the census is vital to ensure free and fair elections. |
| 'Looters killed' | 'Looters killed' |
| The BBC's Maud Jullien reports from Kinshasa that most shops are closed and internet and text messaging services have been blocked, apparently on the orders of the government. | |
| Hundreds of angry young men burned tyres in several neighbourhoods, looted mainly Asian-owned shops and threw stones at cars, our reporter says. | |
| A town hall in southern Kinshasa, a city with a population of more than nine million, was also set ablaze, AFP news agency reports. | A town hall in southern Kinshasa, a city with a population of more than nine million, was also set ablaze, AFP news agency reports. |
| In the poor area of Masina on the city's outskirts, police tried to disperse protesters by shooting into the air, our correspondent says. | In the poor area of Masina on the city's outskirts, police tried to disperse protesters by shooting into the air, our correspondent says. |
| Ten people were arrested on Tuesday, AFP reports. | |
| Government spokesman Lambert Mende said two policemen and two "looters" had been killed in Monday's clashes in the capital. | Government spokesman Lambert Mende said two policemen and two "looters" had been killed in Monday's clashes in the capital. |
| Human rights activists said up to 10 people may have been killed. | Human rights activists said up to 10 people may have been killed. |
| Opposition figures suggested the number of those who had died may be higher still. | |
| Boycott | Boycott |
| The demonstrators called on Mr Kabila to step down when his term expires and carried placards which said: "Don't touch the constitution". | The demonstrators called on Mr Kabila to step down when his term expires and carried placards which said: "Don't touch the constitution". |
| Hundreds of people also protested on Monday in Goma, the main trading post in the east. | Hundreds of people also protested on Monday in Goma, the main trading post in the east. |
| The protests coincided with a debate in the Senate, the upper parliamentary chamber, over government plans to hold a census before elections. | The protests coincided with a debate in the Senate, the upper parliamentary chamber, over government plans to hold a census before elections. |
| Most senators, including members of the governing party, said they were opposed to the plan because it risked destabilising the country. | |
| The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, approved the plan on Saturday, in a vote boycotted by opposition MPs. | The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, approved the plan on Saturday, in a vote boycotted by opposition MPs. |
| The opposition says this amounts to a "constitutional coup" by Mr Kabila, as it will take about three years for a census to be conducted in DR Congo, which is two-thirds of the size of western Europe, has very little infrastructure and is hit by instability in the east. | The opposition says this amounts to a "constitutional coup" by Mr Kabila, as it will take about three years for a census to be conducted in DR Congo, which is two-thirds of the size of western Europe, has very little infrastructure and is hit by instability in the east. |
| DR Congo, formerly known as Zaire, has never had a reliable census since independence from Belgium in 1960. | DR Congo, formerly known as Zaire, has never had a reliable census since independence from Belgium in 1960. |
| Mr Kabila took power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila, who was president at the time, and has won two disputed elections since then. | Mr Kabila took power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila, who was president at the time, and has won two disputed elections since then. |
| DR Congo is rich in natural resources, but most people are poor. | DR Congo is rich in natural resources, but most people are poor. |