afrol News, 23 March - The government of Congo Kinshasa (DRC) has issued an arrest warrant against the country's former Vice President and runner-up of the last presidential polls, Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba, accusing him of treason. Security forces of opposition leader and senator Bemba had engaged in fighting with the Congolese army.

Fearing his removal of his senatorial immunity, Mr Bemba ran to the South African embassy in Kinshasa to seek refuge. The Congolese government has asked the embassy officials to hand him over.

It is not clear whether South Africa would comply with the demands of the Congolese government. The country's deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad, had asked both sides to cease fighting.

The Congolese government spokesperson, Toussaint Tshilombo, said Mr Bemba committed treason because he had asked armed forces to fight for his selfish interest.

The ex-VP refuted the allegations that he had planned to dislodge President Joseph Kabila from power. Rather, he complained of repeated attacks on his residence, which clearly had shown that his life had been threatened.

The issuance of the warrant followed a heavy gun battle between the guards of the former rebel-leader-turned-VP and those of the Congolese army on Thursday in the capital Kinshasa. As the fighting became fierce, Mr Bemba's militia members who refused to be integrated into the regular army took to their heels. Some of them were seen surrendering themselves to the UN peacekeeping officers.

Mr Bemba's guards, who number 200, refused to disarm, despite the expiration of the time to do this last week. The ex-VP said he fears for his life and therefore demanded for more personal security guards before allowing his men to lay down their arms.

Concerned about the clashes, the UN Security Council asked for immediate ceasefire in Congo Kinshasa, after close to a dozen people had died in the fighting.

The Congolese government rejected Mr Bemba's call for negotiations with them, stressing that fresh talks were not necessary because the government had been elected democratically.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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