'Coup attempt' in DR Congo capital
BBC News 03/28/2004
Shooting has broken out in various parts of the capital of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, in what is feared to
have been a coup attempt.
One soldier was killed and two injured as unknown gunmen attacked military installations and a TV station.
"There appears to have been a coup attempt," said UK Ambassador in Kinshasa Jim Atkinson.
The government says the situation is now under control and it appealed to the people to remain calm.
DR Congo is recovering from five years of war, which ended with a peace deal in 2002.
This is the first time since then that fighting has erupted in the centre of Kinshasa, says the BBC's Arnaud
Zajtman, reporting from the capital.
Calm
Gunfire was heard at around 0330 (0230 GMT).
Information Minister Vital Kamerhe announced on state television on Sunday morning that non-identified
armed groups had simultaneously attacked two army posts, a military airport and the naval base.
Shells were also dropped on densely populated parts of town, and a private television station also came
under attack.
The national radio has stopped broadcasting.
Our correspondent says that by early afternoon there were few people on the streets of Kinshasa.
Soldiers riding pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns have taken up position at strategic points -
notably near the headquarters of the UN mission in Congo.
Suspects
Several arrests have been made and weapons seized, said Mr Kamerhe.
"Rocket-propelled grenades were fired from the direction of the Palais de la Nation [Presidential Palace]
in the direction of the president's house and fire returned," said the UK Ambassador in Kinshasa, Jim
Atkinson, quoted by Reuters news agency.
Congolese police told the agency that the army clashed with former soldiers from the Zairean Armed
Forces (Faz) of late President Mobutu Sese Seko, following the discovery of an arms cache.
DR Congo - formerly known as Zaire - is emerging from five years of war in which it is thought more than
three million people died.
President Joseph Kabila heads a power-sharing government under peace deals that ended the fighting.
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©2003 The African Independent, Inc.