Congo opposition leader in hospital after police fire tear gas

By Kenny Katombe

LUBUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Congolese resistance figure Moise Katumbi was dealt with in clinic on Friday after police let go nerve gas at him and his supporters outside the prosecutor's office in the southern mining center point of Lubumbashi, his legal counselor said.

The previous legislative leader of Democratic Republic of Congo's principle copper-mining area had been summoned for addressing over charges he had enlisted hired fighters, including previous U.S. troopers, as a major aspect of a plot against the republic.

Katumbi denies the allegations, which he says are gone for wrecking his crusade to succeed President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled following 2001 however is banned from remaining for a third term in a race set for November.

Not long after Katumbi's entry, police let go poisonous gas at a large number of his benefactors, who had assembled outside the prosecutor's office to demonstrate their backing, and the two sides pelted each other with stones.

"He is wiped out. He was assaulted. So it's typical that the specialist would need to hold him under perception," said Georges Kapiamba, who told Reuters Katumbi had breathed in poisonous gas and was mistreated by police upon his entry.

Riot police hold their position as they attempt to disperse supporters of Democratic Republic of Congo's opposition Presidential candidate Moise Katumbi as they escort him to the prosecutor's office over government allegations he hired mercenaries in a plot against the state in Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga province, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Kenny Katombe

The hearing was very quickly suspended after Katumbi said he felt unwell, Kapiamba included.

Friday's viciousness was the third time in five days that police have scattered Katumbi's supporters in the midst of addressing by the prosecutor that started on Monday.

"It's pitiful that there is not a condition of law - cops who toss stones and wound my more seasoned sibling," Katumbi said before at last entering the building.

Political pressures are high in Congo, where handfuls were murdered in January 2015 in challenges over a proposed modification of the appointive law that faultfinders said was a ploy to keep Kabila in force past the end of his order.

Kabila's commentators blame him for attempting to postpone the November race to stick to control. The administration has said that it is unrealistic to have the capacity to arrange the survey in time because of budgetary and logistical limitations.

The nation's most astounding court decided on Wednesday that Kabila would stay in force past the end of his command this year if the race does not occur.

In an announcement on Friday, driving restriction parties blamed the court for supporting an "established rebellion" and called for walks the nation over on May 26 to request that Kabila venture as the year progressed.

(Reporting by Kenny Katombe; Additional reporting and composing by Aaron Ross in Kinshasa; Editing by Joe Bavier and Alison Williams)