SITREP 28: KINSHASA UPDATE (8/24 1445 LOCAL TIME)

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001346 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG SUBJECT: SITREP 28: KINSHASA UPDATE (8/24 1445 LOCAL TIME) REF: KINSHASA 1344 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) EmbOff eyewitnesses reported midday seeing a crowd of about 200 near the office of one of the television stations owned by Vice President Bemba. This location is where the shooting and violence the evening of August 20 originated. Congolese police, supported by MONUC and EUFOR troops, arrived on the scene around 1200 local time. EmbOffs report hearing shots fired shortly thereafter, apparently by Congolese police as warning shots in the air in an effort to disperse the crowd. Those gathered quickly scattered, but then later returned to the area. The Ambassador reported seeing four MONUC APCs in the traffic circle adjacent to the station at 1330. No further incidents have been reported from the scene. ¶2. (U) At the same time, EmbOffs also report seeing a crowd of several hundred people at MLC headquarters along Boulevard 30 Juin. The crowd has been growing in the past hour, but witnesses report that those gathered are chanting slogans and acting peacefully. MONUC troops and APCs remain stationed next to the MLC offices. People had apparently been arriving in advance of a press conference held by Bemba at the location. By 1445, crowds at the location were beginning to disperse. ¶3. (U) A separate incident of warning shots being fired in the air in a commercial area of 30 Juin was reported at 1350. ¶4. (SBU) The regular Thursday meeting of the CIAT ambassadors is scheduled to take place at 1600 local time. Before this meeting, SRSG Swing was expected to meet with President Kabila. MEECE