News
Democratic Republic of Congo Update: Calls for calm in disputed election
Saturday, December 10, 2011
There have been appeals for calm in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the victory of President Joseph Kabila in disputed elections.
Main opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi has rejected official results and declared himself the winner, raising fears of violence.
Mr Tshisekedi along with the EU, the US, Britain, France and former colonial power Belgium appealed for calm.
Riot police are patrolling the capital, Kinshasa, and gunshots have been heard.
The city, in the west of the country, is an opposition stronghold and columns of smoke were seen rising over districts backing Mr Tshisekedi as groups of young men burned tyres.