Clashes In Congo As Opposition Demands Poll Rerun

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo have clashed with opposition supporters demanding that last week's presidential poll be annulled.

Leading opposition candidates have denounced the election as a sham and have demanded a rerun.

Several people were wounded as police fired tear gas and threw stones back at protesters in the capital, Kinshasa.

The government banned the protest, saying it would not tolerate attempts to undermine the electoral process.

Election officials have so far not said exactly how many polling stations opened or how many people voted in the 20 December election.

About 44 million people were registered to vote at about 75,000 polling stations.

With just over nine million ballots counted so far, President Felix Tshisekedi is in the lead with almost 80% of the vote as he seeks a second term.

Football tycoon and mining magnate Moiuml;se Katumbi is trailing him with about 16%.

Former oil executive Martin Fayulu, who claims he was robbed of victory in the 2018 election, is in third place with about 4%.

Mr Fayulu's supporters burnt tyres and clashed with police outside his campaign headquarters in Kinshasa.

Police took up positions on key roads in the city and thwarted an attempted march to the headquarters of the electoral commission.

Mr Fayulu said that 11 of his supporters were injured.BBC