RDC: Ataques originam dezenas de mortos

The Democratic Republic of Congo's army has repulsed several attacks in the capital, Kinshasa, by an "unknown terrorist group", the government says. The state TV headquarters, the international airport and a military base in the city were all targeted. The information minister said the situation was now under control and about 46 attackers had been killed. Meanwhile, the army has also clashed with unknown gunmen on the outskirts of Lubumbashi, a military spokesman said. He told the BBC that some of the attackers in Lubumbashi, the main city of DR Congo's southern mineral-rich Katanga province, had been arrested. Congolese security officers position themselves as they secure the street near the state television headquarters (C) in the capital Kinshasa, 30 December 2013 The attackers interrupted the national broadcaster during a live programme President Joseph Kabila, who won his second term in office two years ago, is touring Katanga but was not under any threat, DR Congo's Information Minister Lambert Mende told the BBC. 'Shooting everywhere' Mr Mende said the attackers at the state TV and radio headquarters had been armed with weapons such as knives, and there was "no chance of them even to maintain their positions, even for a single hour". Map "People were frightened when security personnel were firing against these attackers," the minister told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme after visiting the RTNC headquarters. He said the attackers numbered fewer than 100 and that the security forces had killed about 46 of them and captured about 10. On the government's side, an army colonel was killed when the attackers struck the military base, Mr Mende told the BBC. He said he understood that two staff members forced to read a statement on TV were safe. Reuters said the statement appeared to be a political message against President Kabila's government.

"Gideon Mukungubila has come to free you from the slavery of the Rwandan," said the message, according to Reuters. In 1997, Rwandan-backed troops ousted DR Congo's long-serving ruler Mobutu Sese Seko and installed Laurent Kabila - the father of incumbent leader Joseph Kabila - as president. According to Reuters, Gideon is the nickname used for religious leader Paul Joseph Mukungubila (foto) by his followers. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2006.