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DR Congo

Bemba surrenders to UN mission in DR Congo

KINSHASA, Mar 23, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX)

  • The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba surrendered on Friday to the U.N mission in DRC (Monuc), according to UN sources.

He surrendered himself at Monuc's headquarters after leaving the South African Embassy in the capital of Kinshasa to which he sought refuge after his supporters clashed with government troops Thursday, a source told Xinhua.

About 80 bodyguards belonging to Bemba also surrendered individually at Monuc's camps, according to the source.

Meanwhile, Monuc called for the appeasement of the security situation in Kinshasa, while vowing to take "any necessary measures" to protect the civilian population.