Clashes in western Congo claim 134 lives: UN

A total of 134 people were killed last week in clashes between police and a local religious group in the western province of Bas-Congo, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said on Wednesday.

The UN mission in the DRC, known by its French acronym as Monuc, said that 134 people died and dozens injured on Jan. 31 and Feb.1 in clashes between police and local religious group "Bundu dia Kongo."

Clashes erupted when demonstrators protesting alleged electoral fraud, led by Bundu dia Kongo, rampaged through several towns and security forces tried to restore order. Violence spread to at least five towns in Bas-Congo, including Matadi, Boma, Kasangulu, Kinzaomvwete and Moanda.

According to a military spokesman of the UN mission, Monuc on Wednesday asked the Congolese government to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis, and sent a group in charge of humanitarian issues to probe into the clashes in Bas-Congo.

The mission has built a military base in Moanda and deployed 300 peacekeepers in Matadi, the official said.

Last Saturday, DRC's Interior Minister Denis Kalume told media that violence escalated between the police and members of Bundu dia Kongo at Matadi last Wednesday, following police's thorough search.

Founded in 1969, Bunda dia Kongo is a religious movement which is aimed at contributing to the salvation and restructuring of Africa. However, the sect has transformed itself into a political-religious movement in recent years.

The group currently supports former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who won a senatorial seat last month.

Bemba's militia clashed with President Joseph Kabila's forces twice last year, as results were announced in the initial presidential vote and the runoff in Congo's first free elections for a head of state.

Source: Xinhua