Some 2,000 supporters of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC)'s largest opposition party marched in the capital Kinshasa on
Tuesday, protesting their candidate's absence from the upcoming
election.
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Last year, Etienne Tshisekedi, leader of the Union for Democracy
and Social Progress (UDPS) called on his followers to boycott the
voter registration.
Earlier this year, he changed his mind about running in the
election after the registration deadline had passed, but then gave
up his bid to enter the race after his demand to reopen the
registration was rejected by the Independent Electoral
Committee.
During Tuesday's march, protesters tore up candidates' posters
and burned the Independent Electoral Committee's banderoles,
chanting slogans like "no Tshisekedi, no elections".
They also attacked several passers-by who were wearing T-shirts
printed with candidates' portraits. Some protesters dashed through
the police security line, trying to smash cars bearing candidates'
posters. They also hurled bricks and burning bottles at the
police.
Police fired tear gas and sirens sounded in the city as officers
arrived to contain the crowd.
The first round of the presidential election in the DRC is
scheduled to begin on July 30, signaling the start of the first
democratic election to be held in the country in more than 40
years.
(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2006)
