1 Killed in Congo Clash Between Police, Opposition

Posted September 6th, 2011 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
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Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo opened fire on opposition protesters Tuesday, killing one person and wounding two others.

Witnesses say members of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress took to the streets of Kinshasa, after the party headquarters was vandalized and set on fire.

The independent television station RLTV also was attacked.

Kinshasa's police chief, General Jean de Dieu Oleko, said his forces were deployed to maintain order. He declined to provide further details.

The opposition blamed the attack on its headquarters on supporters of President Joseph Kabila.

His party's headquarters were attacked and vandalized on Monday.

On Monday, Union for Democracy and Social Progress leader Etienne Tshisekedi formally entered the race for the November 28 presidential poll.

President Kabila has been in power since 2001, when he took office after the death of his father, Laurent Kabila. He was later elected to office in the 2006 polls, which Tshisekedi boycotted.

Congolese opposition parties have not been able to agree on a joint candidate.