Kabila Reportedly Killed in Coup Attempt

Kabila Reportedly Killed in Coup Attempt

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President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was shot dead in an apparent coup attempt or assassination Tuesday night, reports reaching here said.

The spokesman for Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said that the reliable source revealed that Kabila was shot dead.

He also said that the streets in the Congolese capital Kinshasa were quiet and there was no violence against foreigners.

An 30-minute gunbattle erupted earlier Tuesday around Kabila's presidential residence and the army chief of staff has appealed for calm and discipline.

The borders and airports were reportedly closed and soldiers with arms patrolled the already quiet streets several hours after the coup attempt.