The European Union on Tuesday expressed concern at the violence which has marred the run up to presidential and legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo later this month.

The EU "is concerned at recent developments in the electoral campaign," the European bloc said in a statement published in Kinshasa.

Recent violent acts and calls to disregard the law were creating "a climate of violence and political, social and ethnic tension," the statement continued.

The European Union called on all political players in the country to swiftly engage in a "peaceful electoral process, respecting everyone" so as to allow free, fair and transparent polling.

Rival supporters clashed Monday in the DRC where the government also shut down an opposition TV station, as tension rose with general election only three weeks away.

In the southeastern mining city of Lubumbashi, street fights erupted between stone-throwing supporters of the ruling Party for Reconstruction and Democracy and of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress.

The clashes, which came two days after similar violence left 15 wounded, raised fears that the vast conflict-prone country might slip back into widespread violence ahead of polls scheduled for November 28.

The Congolese TV channel that was suspended after it aired an opposition call for militants to break down prison walls will not be reopened before November 14, the media authority said Tuesday.

Late Tuesday in Kinshasa a police officer was attacked by opposition militants and a vehicle set alight, according to police who arrested seven suspects.