The African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare on Saturday strongly condemned the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and regretted the loss of lives and the resulting destruction.

In a statement from the AU headquarters, Konare said he was deeply concerned with the armed clashes that have took place in the DRC 's capital Kinshasa since Thursday between the forces of the Congolese army and the guards of Jean-Pierre Bemba, who lost in presidential polls last year.

He called on the parties concerned to show maximum restraint in order to safeguard peace and avoid compromising the significant progress achieved by the transition.

"Such a perspective would be tragic for the DRC and the region as a whole," he said.

Konare urged the Congolese government and Jean-Pierre Bemba "to spare no efforts to create conducive conditions for the peaceful resolution of the crisis, within the scrupulous respect of constitutional legality and the institutions established following the transition."

At present, government troops have recaptured most of Kinshasa, after a third day of gun battles with Bemba's guards.

Eyewitnesses said dozens of bodies, riddled with bullet wounds, have been moved from the streets and civilians have been ordered to stay indoors.

Earlier, an arrest warrant was issued for Bemba on grounds of treason.

Bemba has taken refuge in the South African embassy compound and has denied plotting military action to overthrow President Joseph Kabila.

A deadline for Bemba's guards to disarm expired this week but he wants additional security guarantees before they lay down their weapons.

Source: Xinhua