Cablegate: Sitrep 28: Kinshasa Update (8/24 1445 Local Time)

VZCZCXRO9857
OO RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1346 2361347
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241347Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4665
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001346

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SITREP 28: KINSHASA UPDATE (8/24 1445 LOCAL TIME)

REF: KINSHASA 1344 AND PREVIOUS

1. (U) EmbOff eyewitnesses reported midday seeing a crowd of
about 200 near the office of one of the television stations
owned by Vice President Bemba. This location is where the
shooting and violence the evening of August 20 originated.
Congolese police, supported by MONUC and EUFOR troops,
arrived on the scene around 1200 local time. EmbOffs report
hearing shots fired shortly thereafter, apparently by
Congolese police as warning shots in the air in an effort to
disperse the crowd. Those gathered quickly scattered, but
then later returned to the area. The Ambassador reported
seeing four MONUC APCs in the traffic circle adjacent to the
station at 1330. No further incidents have been reported from
the scene.

2. (U) At the same time, EmbOffs also report seeing a crowd
of several hundred people at MLC headquarters along Boulevard
30 Juin. The crowd has been growing in the past hour, but
witnesses report that those gathered are chanting slogans and
acting peacefully. MONUC troops and APCs remain stationed
next to the MLC offices. People had apparently been arriving
in advance of a press conference held by Bemba at the
location. By 1445, crowds at the location were beginning to
disperse.

3. (U) A separate incident of warning shots being fired in
the air in a commercial area of 30 Juin was reported at 1350.

4. (SBU) The regular Thursday meeting of the CIAT ambassadors
is scheduled to take place at 1600 local time. Before this
meeting, SRSG Swing was expected to meet with President
Kabila.
MEECE

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