MONUC Press Review - 22 November 2006
But La Référence Plus in its version of the story identifies soldiers in charge of the Bemba's security as those behind the firing. "As the demonstrators fell back toward the Vice President's official residence after police used tear gas on them, soldiers guarding the residence came out and opened fire on police," the paper writes, quoting photographer working for the French news agency AFP. In fact, it is "a senior official of [Bemba's] Union for the Nation [coalition] who sent the MLC party leader's guards to fire live rounds on police," says the paper, adding that part of the Supreme Court building was "burned and looted by mobs."
However, a statement issued by the MLC and quoted in Le Phare reads: "The Congolese Armed Forces troops in charge of the protection of Jean-Pierre Bemba cannot be linked to the situation that prevailed yesterday at the Supreme Court..., because they have been following the instruction to stay confined to their barracks."
For its part, L'Observateur, expressing shock at Tuesday's violence, notes: "At a time when most Congolese aspire to see the rule of law established in their country, it is inconceivable that a group of outlaws should mock a nation of people and behave like they belong in a jungle to defend the selfish interests of a collection of individuals who have no idea what it means to go hungry." This is happening at a time when the Congolese are "unsure what the future holds," according to La Tempête des Tropiques.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's session yesterday "was suspended and postponed indefinitely," reports Le Potentiel, wondering if "the future sessions will be public or ...in camera."
Finally, Le Phare reports that the governor of Kinshasa, Admiral Baudouin Liwanga, has decided "the army will have to intervene should there be a repetition" of events like those on Tuesday.