Congo's election marred by violence
- 12 years ago
An angry crowd surrounded and beat this poll worker in Kinshasa who they claim was attempting to stuff ballots boxes, kicking at him until police were able to intervene.
SOUNDBITE: Bonniface Muamba Human Rights Activist, Saying (French):
"We caught him, and he was looking for ways to put the used papers in the ballot boxes, and that's how we caught him. It was all organized through the head of the polling station center."
The scene was just one of a number of violent eruptions at polling stations throughout the country as the Democratic Republic of Congo held its second elections since the war ended in 2003.
At least three polling stations in West Kasai were set on fire and there were reports of masked gunman attacking one station in Katanga.
Security forces were dispatched to Goma after an attack disrupted morning voting.
Tensions are particularly high with rivals of incumbent President Joseph Kabila claiming irregularities and bias by the country's election commission.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
SOUNDBITE: Bonniface Muamba Human Rights Activist, Saying (French):
"We caught him, and he was looking for ways to put the used papers in the ballot boxes, and that's how we caught him. It was all organized through the head of the polling station center."
The scene was just one of a number of violent eruptions at polling stations throughout the country as the Democratic Republic of Congo held its second elections since the war ended in 2003.
At least three polling stations in West Kasai were set on fire and there were reports of masked gunman attacking one station in Katanga.
Security forces were dispatched to Goma after an attack disrupted morning voting.
Tensions are particularly high with rivals of incumbent President Joseph Kabila claiming irregularities and bias by the country's election commission.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.