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UN concerned over chaos due to DR Congo's electoral law

Xinhua, January 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

A United Nations official Wednesday expressed concern over the violence witnessed during protests against the proposed electoral law in Kinshasa and other towns of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

"We are deeply concerned by the repeated incidents of violence witnessed during debate on the proposed law in the Congolese Parliament, and especially the violence witnessed on the streets in the last two days," the deputy special representative of the UN secretary general in DR Congo Abdallah Wafi said.

"It's essential that the legal framework and the electoral calendar which are supposed to run from this year are drafted in a consensual manner, within the confines of the Constitution and public liberties," the statement said.

"We condemn the loss of lives both on the side of protesters as well as on the side of security forces. This is why we are calling on all political actors to avoid any acts of violence and to promote peace," Wafi said.

He appealed to the political opposition to use peaceful means to push for their demands as provided by DR Congo's legal framework.

On the other hand, the UN official appealed to the government "to allow the people to express themselves freely as provided under DR Congo's Constitution."

"The security forces should respect the principle of proportionality and should only resort to use of force as a last option and within limits stipulated by law," Wafi concluded.

DR Congo's Government Spokesman Lambert Mende said 11 people were killed on Monday during protests against the new law in Kinshasa. This death toll has however been refuted by the opposition which has claimed that 28 people had been killed.

The opposition parties have argued that the new law is aimed at postponing the 2016 presidential elections and extending the second term of President Joseph Kabila beyond December next year. Endi