Democratic Republic of Congo gunbattles continue

KINSHASA - Gunbattles shook the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa for a third day on Tuesday as foreign governments pressed President Joseph Kabila and an election rival to halt fighting between their feuding forces.

Fighting has rocked the riverside capital since Sunday when electoral officials announced that a presidential election run-off would be held in October between Kabila and former rebel chief Jean-Pierre Bemba, his closest rival.

The announcement followed historic but inconclusive July 30 elections, which were the first free polls in more than four decades in the vast, war-scarred former Belgian colony.


- REUTERS