July 26, 2006

KINSHASA, Congo -- Thousands of opposition supporters clashed with riot police Tuesday, burning President Joseph Kabila's campaign posters before historic weekend elections meant to bring lasting peace to Congo.

Security forces swung batons and fired tear gas at protesters, who threw Molotov cocktails and chunks of masonry in the streets of the capital, Kinshasa. There was no immediate word on injuries.

Young people made up most of the seething 4,000-person crowd in an outlying slum. One onlooker said they were outraged by their poverty after years of war and corrupt rule that has hobbled their vast, mineral-rich nation.

''Our poverty stems from our politics, which don't work. Our leaders are corrupt and sell our riches overseas while we have nothing,'' said Bob Massoud, 23, an artist. ''We're mad because we're suffering. Everyone is angry.''

The atmosphere is tense in the Central African nation ahead of Sunday's vote -- the first free, multiparty elections for president and parliament in decades.

The protesters, representing two opposition parties, alleged that irregularities in the voters' roll and the printing of 5 million spare ballot papers suggest the vote is being fixed. Election authorities reject the charges.

AP

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