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Kinshasa's Supreme Court Up in Flames

United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
NEWS
November 21, 2006
Posted to the web November 21, 2006

By Eoin Young

The DRC Supreme Court was engulfed in flames today November 21, 2006 following
a protest as the Court began a public hearing into the election contestations
of defeated presidential candidate Jean Pierre Bemba.
The Supreme Court was forced to abandon the hearing as angry Bemba supporters
disrupted proceedings. The fire was subsequently started around 11.30am, as
riot police moved away from the court complex, firing tear gas and shots into
the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
The 200 strong crowd were forced down a side street towards Mr. Bemba's
residence on Kinshasa's main Boulevard of 30 Juin, approximately 400 metres
away. Troops loyal to Bemba, who were guarding his residence, subsequently
opened fire on the police and a 30 minute firefight ensued.
150 elements of MONUC's Western Brigade were called in to defuse the tense
situation, and calm was restored. MONUC's fire brigade was also called out in
an effort to contain the blaze, which was threatening to spiral out of control.
By late afternoon the fire was largely under control. At present it is not
known how much damage has been done to the court complex, but an eyewitness
reported the damage as being considerable.
A joint commission of enquiry into the incident has already been set up,
comprising of elements of MONUC, the DRC prosecutors office and the Congolese
National Police.
The Supreme Court is due this weekend to give its verdict on Mr. Bemba's
election contestations, as a tense political atmosphere prevails in the
capital.


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