In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a fire has broken out at the security camp of a former rebel leader just as he was holding a large campaign rally in the capital Kinshasa ahead of Sunday's post-war election. Smoke rose through the air near the camp of security guards for the former rebel leader turned interim vice president and current presidential candidate, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Dozens of people, some of them bleeding, fled from the camp but soldiers refused to give journalists access to the area.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but it followed an explosion, which came right after a jet screeched at low altitude over downtown Kinshasa. A U.N. diplomat said the jet belonged to the European Rapid Reaction Force, which is there to help with security during the elections. He added that the jet was not the cause of the explosion. He believed the fire was caused by the camp's munitions stores. There are also reports that a church was burned down near the stadium wheer Bemba supporters were gathered awaiting his arrival.
When asked, most, like this man, said they were for Bemba because they said he is a real Congolese.
"I like Bemba to become president of Congo because he is from Congo, he is Congolese of origin, ok, you understand?" he said.
Opponents of the current interim president, Joseph Kabila, the son of slain coup leader, Laurent Desire Kabila, point to the fact he grew up abroad in Tanzania and Uganda. They say his mother is not Congolese and that he works only in the interests of western powers and companies. He denies this. Mr. Kabila also says no one is more Congolese than he is.
Meanwhile, Bemba has been trying to get the support of a main opposition party which is boycotting Sunday's election. Their supporters have also called Mr. Kabila a foreigner, and accuse western powers of rigging the vote in his favor.
The worlds largest United Nations peacekeeping mission which is helping organize the vote denies this.
Inside the stadium as crowds waited, there were more slogans demanding Mr. Kabila get out of Congo.
