Around 10,000 Congolese protested against the government on Saturday over delays to elections meant to end a civil war, watched closely by armed riot police after demonstrations turned to bloodshed last week. Students and activists carrying anti-government banners and palm fronds gathered next to the main stadium in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, but refused to enter as the authorities wished, staging the rally outside instead, according to Reuters. The authorities granted permission for a rally inside the stadium, though not a street march. Around 1,000 activists travelled from the UDPS headquarters to the stadium but there was no sign of serious trouble. A week ago, at least one person died when security forces fired bullets and tear gas to disperse a protest. Local humanitarian and other groups have put the death toll as high as 10. Kabila denounced that demonstration as a bid to overturn the transition government and make elections impossible. Elections had been due by June 30 but the government invoked the first of two possible six-month delays provided for under the 2003 peace deal, designed to end to years of warfare that have killed around 4 million people, mainly through war-related hunger and disease in the mineral-rich nation. Activists at Saturday's rally accused foreign governments of helping Kabila stay in power.
