Gunshots fired outside Congo’s supreme court

KINSHASA – Gunshots were heard yesterday outside Congo’s supreme court where a hearing was starting over fraud allegations in the country’s presidential vote.

UN forces arrived in armoured vehicles and people fled for cover amid wailing sirens. The gunfire appeared to have stopped after about 45 minutes, but dozens of fights broke out in the streets surrounding the building and cars were set on fire.Those fighting were dressed in street clothes.An AP reporter on the scene did not see the source of the shots that started the incident.The court had just started a hearing over vote fraud charges brought by Jean-Pierre Bemba _ the runner-up in Congo’s landmark presidential election, said Denis Tabiana, a member of Bemba’s coalition who was in the room.Last month, Congo voted for its first democratically elected leader in more than 40 years in an attempt to move toward peace and democracy after years of war and totalitarian rule.Interim President Joseph Kabila was declared the winner of the vote last week.Nampa-APThe gunfire appeared to have stopped after about 45 minutes, but dozens of fights broke out in the streets surrounding the building and cars were set on fire.Those fighting were dressed in street clothes.An AP reporter on the scene did not see the source of the shots that started the incident.The court had just started a hearing over vote fraud charges brought by Jean-Pierre Bemba _ the runner-up in Congo’s landmark presidential election, said Denis Tabiana, a member of Bemba’s coalition who was in the room.Last month, Congo voted for its first democratically elected leader in more than 40 years in an attempt to move toward peace and democracy after years of war and totalitarian rule.Interim President Joseph Kabila was declared the winner of the vote last week.Nampa-AP