Kinshasa, Republic of Congo - Clashes between Congolese students and police leave possibly 6 dead

7sur7/be.

14 January 2011 - Clashes between Congolese students and police have resulted in one to six dead on Thursday on the campus of the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), reported several media, including RFI and Radio Okapi and the agency DIA.
The clashes began after the discovery in the night between Wednesday and Thursday of a student's body hanging from a tree between the houses, the second death that has occurred almost at the same location in the space of a week in the capital of the Republic Congo (DRC).
Cars and houses damaged
Students took to the streets to demonstrate against these unexplained deaths and demand more security on campus. They destroyed half a dozen cars, including the rector of UNIKIN and damaged homes of professors. They also ransacked the police station nearest the house and starts the Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito.
Looting
According to UN-sponsored Radio Okapi, the police intervened to make a "sweep operation" against the youth of the neighbourhood near Mbanza Lemba, accused of looting during the student uprising. Many shots were heard until at least
13:00, said the UN radio.
Under the direction of the university, quoted by Radio France International (RFI), three people were shot dead, a young girl and two young men. The Catholic Agency for its part DIA reported two students and four policemen killed, citing witnesses reached by telephone. (Belga/7sur7)