UN urges calm amid conflicting death tolls in Democratic Republic of Congo riots

The UN has called on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to exercise maximum restraint in the wake of deadly anti-government protests, as conflicting reports emerged over the number of people killed in the violence.

Police said on Wednesday that 32 people had been killed during clashes in the capital Kinshasa on Monday and Tuesday, but the opposition contradicted the death toll, saying at least 100 people were killed when security forces fired live ammunition at protesters.

The different figures came as DRC officials vowed to hunt down and punish those responsible for the violence.

“Investigations will spare no one,” police spokesman Pierrot Mwanamputu was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

“If police or soldiers violated ethics or the law, measures will be taken.”

Read More- al Jazeera

Image courtesy of AP