Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who rejects Joseph Kabila's re-election as president, had himself ‘sworn in’ at his home as police clashed with his supporters.

Tshisekedi, 79, who came second in the November 28 poll, on Friday defied a police ban on his ‘inauguration’, which had been planned for a football stadium in the capital where police fired teargas to prevent the planned ceremony.

With armoured vehicles of the Republican Guard and large forces of police mobilised at the stadium, the event was moved to Tshisekedi's Kinshasa home, where police also used tear gas on supporters and officials of his Union for Democracy and Social Progress gathered outside.

"It's banned. There is already an elected president who has been sworn in. We cannot have another swearing-in. It's an act of subversion," a source close to the head of the country's police said. "Such a rally would be destabilising for the regime in place," the source added of the event planned for Martyr's Stadium.

Insult
Tshisekedi took the oath on a Bible after his chief of staff Albert Moleka read a statement claiming that "today puts an indelible mark on the history of our country which has passed from dictatorship via the oligarchy of Kabila and his followers to real democracy."

Government spokesman Lambert Mende promptly dismissed the ceremony as a farce and a non-event, as well as "an insult to oath taking. The head of state only takes the oath before a supreme court," he said. "Did you see a supreme court judge?"

“Massive fraud”
Meanwhile, the country's communications minister Lambert Mende said the signal of Radio France International (RFI) was cut several times since late Thursday as it was broadcasting news about Tshisekedi's planned ‘swearing-in’. Mende blasted RFI for becoming "a mouthpiece for the UDPS," Tshisekedi's party.

Kabila, who has been in power since January 2001, took nearly 49 percent of the vote in last month's election, with Tshisekedi coming second with 32 percent. Kabila was officially sworn-in at a ceremony in Kinshasa on Tuesday. Tshisekedi contends he was denied victory by massive fraud.

At least 24 killed
The government Thursday pledged to probe alleged post-vote police killings, as Human Rights Watch said security forces killed at least 24 people and "arbitrarily" arrested dozens since Kabila's disputed victory was announced on 9 December.

Justice Minister Emmanuel Luzolo Bambi told reporters his office would work with Human Rights Watch to try to document each case in the report, and that he had already spoken with prosecutors. "If the allegations are verified, the justice department will take action," he said.

According to Human Rights Watch, all but four of those in its report died in Kinshasa between December 9 and 14. Two more were killed in eastern Nord Kivu province, and two in central Kasai Occidental. HRW said it also documented an attack where youths in the capital stoned a priest, who later died of his injuries.

Source: AFP