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| DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests | DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has thrown its weight behind protests against President Joseph Kabila extending his rule. | The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has thrown its weight behind protests against President Joseph Kabila extending his rule. |
| It called on people to peacefully oppose his move to delay presidential elections until a census is held. | It called on people to peacefully oppose his move to delay presidential elections until a census is held. |
| At least 11 people have so far been been killed in the protests. | At least 11 people have so far been been killed in the protests. |
| It is the worst unrest in the capital, Kinshasa, since the riots which broke out after Mr Kabila won a second term in disputed elections in 2011. | It is the worst unrest in the capital, Kinshasa, since the riots which broke out after Mr Kabila won a second term in disputed elections in 2011. |
| Mr Kabila, who first took power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent, is constitutionally barred from running for another term in elections due next year. | Mr Kabila, who first took power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent, is constitutionally barred from running for another term in elections due next year. |
| 'Dormitories ablaze' | 'Dormitories ablaze' |
| The opposition says government plans for a census are a ploy to delay the poll so that he can hang on to power. | The opposition says government plans for a census are a ploy to delay the poll so that he can hang on to power. |
| The government admits the election could be delayed, but says the census is vital to ensure polls are free and fair. | The government admits the election could be delayed, but says the census is vital to ensure polls are free and fair. |
| The Catholic Church, the largest in DR Congo, has shut its schools as violent protests continued in Kinshasa for a third day. | The Catholic Church, the largest in DR Congo, has shut its schools as violent protests continued in Kinshasa for a third day. |
| The BBC's Maud Julien reports from the city that security forces and protesters clashed again at the government-run University of Kinshasa, the focal point of protests. | The BBC's Maud Julien reports from the city that security forces and protesters clashed again at the government-run University of Kinshasa, the focal point of protests. |
| Demonstrators told her that security forces fired live ammunition, killing four of them. There is no independent confirmation of this. | Demonstrators told her that security forces fired live ammunition, killing four of them. There is no independent confirmation of this. |
| During a visit to the campus, she saw many buildings gutted by fire, including dormitories for female students. | During a visit to the campus, she saw many buildings gutted by fire, including dormitories for female students. |
| Windows had been shattered, and the impact of bullets was clearly visible. | Windows had been shattered, and the impact of bullets was clearly visible. |
| Radio France International, the main foreign broadcaster in DR Congo, has been pulled off air, our reporter says. | |
| Looting | Looting |
| On Tuesday, internet connections and text messaging services were blocked, apparently on the orders of the government. | On Tuesday, internet connections and text messaging services were blocked, apparently on the orders of the government. |
| Many shops had been looted and set ablaze as the protests turned violent, our correspondent says. | Many shops had been looted and set ablaze as the protests turned violent, our correspondent says. |
| Catholic Church head Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya said "certain political men, with the security forces" were in "desolation" and causing insecurity in DR Congo. | Catholic Church head Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya said "certain political men, with the security forces" were in "desolation" and causing insecurity in DR Congo. |
| "Stop killing your people," he said in a statement. | "Stop killing your people," he said in a statement. |
| The cardinal called on the public to challenge by all "legal and peaceful means any attempt to change laws that are essential to the electoral process". | The cardinal called on the public to challenge by all "legal and peaceful means any attempt to change laws that are essential to the electoral process". |
| 'Constitutional coup' | 'Constitutional coup' |
| Government spokesman Lambert Mende said the 11 who died in Monday's and Tuesday's clashes included a policeman shot by a sniper and 10 civilians killed by security guards while attempting to loot private properties. | Government spokesman Lambert Mende said the 11 who died in Monday's and Tuesday's clashes included a policeman shot by a sniper and 10 civilians killed by security guards while attempting to loot private properties. |
| He said 22 people had been wounded, most of them policemen. | He said 22 people had been wounded, most of them policemen. |
| Opposition leader Vital Kamerhe disputed the government's figures, saying 28 protesters had been killed - eight on Tuesday and 20 on Monday. | Opposition leader Vital Kamerhe disputed the government's figures, saying 28 protesters had been killed - eight on Tuesday and 20 on Monday. |
| 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. | 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. |