Displaced persons return to their homes after fighting in Brazzaville

Thousands of Brazzaville residents who had taken refuge in churches and host families following the fighting that broke out on Monday between Republic of Congo security forces and Ninjas militia, on Tuesday began to progressively return to their homes.

Motivated by calm observed in the night and the call by the government which took control of the situation, the displaced persons who are estimated to be 35,000, expressed hope for restoration of security in their suburbs.

According to official estimates, Monday's fighting between security forces and Ninjas militia led by ex-rebel leader Pastor Ntumi left at least 17 people dead.

The 17 included three security officers, two civilians and 12 assailants.

On Tuesday, opposition member Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas who came second in the recent elections with 15 percent of the votes cast, accused the government of being behind the fighting that broke out in the southern suburbs of Brazzaville.

Kolelas further urged church members and the international community to help save the Republic of Congo.

However, Kolelas' brother, Euloge Landry Kolelas who leads the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development that is allied to the ruling party, termed the attack by Ninjas militia as "barbaric."

"Today, we do not need militia in Pool department. They should all be arrested," he said, while also calling for national unity and reconciliation.

On its part, the ruling party, Congolese Labour Party, through its secretary general Pierre Ngolo, condemned these acts and asked the perpetrators to seek forgiveness from the Congolese people. Endit