Firefighters hose down debris following a fire at the party headquarters of Congolese presidential challenger Jean-Pierre Bemba, in Kinshasa, Congo, Monday, Sept. 18, 2006. A large fire broke out Monday at the party headquarters of Congolese presidential challenger Jean-Pierre Bemba. Smoked poured out into the street as firefighters worked to contain the blaze in the late afternoon. U.N. tanks arrived to secure the area while Bemba supporters gathered outside the building, chanting "Things are going to get hot today! Those who think Bemba will die are wrong!" The United Nations has a large force in the restive Central African country to secure elections _ the country's first multiparty presidential ballot in more than four decades.
(AP Photo / John Bompengo)
Protesters block roads in Congo capital
KINSHASA, Congo --Supporters of Congo's presidential challenger barricaded streets, stopped traffic and threw stones in the capital Tuesday, a day after a fire at his headquarters destroyed the party's television and radio stations.
About 200 to 300 supporters of Jean-Pierre Bemba shouted that Monday's blaze was an attack on their candidate. The cause of the blaze has not been determined.
Bemba, a former rebel leader and vice president in the Central African country's transitional government, will face incumbent President Joseph Kabila in a runoff election Oct. 29. The United Nations has sent troops into the restive country to secure the election.
Bemba supporters alleged that fire trucks took about an hour to arrive at the party's headquarters and that they were intentionally delayed by Kabila's administration. Bemba was not in the building at the time.
The local governor said the firefighters were delayed because they were busy putting out a blaze in another part of the city.
Police tried disperse the crowd Tuesday and take down the barricades. Many of the demonstrators threw stones at cars and police officers. At least 10 U.N. tanks were seen in the area.
Moise Musangana, a spokesman for Bemba, said the destruction of the television studios will seriously weaken his campaign.
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