- Title: DRC police fire tear gas at supporters of opposition leader
- Date: 11th May 2016
- Summary: LUBUMBASHI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MAY 11, 2016) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS OF OPPOSITION LEADER, MOISE KATUMBI, GATHERED AROUND HIM SUPPORTERS RUNNING AS POLICE CHASE THEM SUPPORTERS RUNNING AMID TEAR GAS POLICE DRAGGING PERSON IN THE STREET AUDIO OF BANG/VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS RUNNING / POLICE / TEAR GAS
- Embargoed: 26th May 2016 14:47
- Keywords: Democratic Republic of Congo tear gas Moise Katumbi opposition candidate supporters
- Location: LUBUMBASHI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- City: LUBUMBASHI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014HD732F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Police in Democratic Republic of Congo fired tear gas on Wednesday (May 11) at thousands of supporters of Moise Katumbi, a leading opposition candidate for president who is being questioned over government allegations of hiring mercenaries.
Katumbi is a favourite in the race to succeed President Joseph Kabila who must step down after elections in November.
Katumbi's supporters say the accusations, which could lead to jail, are aimed at derailing his campaign.
The popular former governor of Congo's copper-mining region is accused of hiring mercenaries, including former U.S. soldiers, in a plot against the republic.
Police arrested at least 10 people outside the prosecutor general's office in Congo's second city of Lubumbashi who surged toward the building when Katumbi arrived at about 11 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) for a second day of questioning, witnesses said.
"What is going on is that this is a political trial, that's all, in order to block a candidate, who is expressing himself, a candidate who wants to prepare for the November 19, this year so he may present himself for the elections and may get the people's vote. That is all that has happened and that is what we are contesting," said civil society activist Muteba Luhunga.
The government denies the allegations against Katumbi are politically motivated.
Kabila's opponents accuse him of trying to delay the presidential election to hold onto power beyond the two five-year terms allowed by the constitution.
Dozens were killed in January 2015 in protests over a proposed revision of the electoral law that critics said was a ploy to keep Kabila in power beyond the end of his mandate. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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