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Diplomats Hiding In Congo to be Rescued

The outbreak of fighting in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinsasha, following the results of a contested election in the country, is leading the international community to plan evacuations for citizens or personnel located in the country. Fighting has never really ended for this African nation, and envoys from the U.K., the U.S., France, China, Russia, and the head of the 17,000-troop UN "peacekeeping" mission, William Swing, are reportedly stuck in the latest round of it.

A spokesman for the United Nations, Jean-Tobie Okala, said at least 150 U.N. "blue helmeted" troops in 20 armored personnel carriers were sent to rescue the diplomats stranded in Kinsasha, who were meeting with the opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba at his residence in the capital when the fighting began on Sunday. The fighting broke out between supporters of President Joseph Kabila, and his rival in Bemba.

Under the Congolese electoral code, a presidential hopeful needs to take at least 50 percent of the vote. Mr. Kabila took just 45 percent of the vote, short of the 50 percent needed for victory, while Mr. Bemba only gained 20 percent. The results of the July 30 election were released by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) of the Congo earlier this week. The poll was the first democratic vote to be held in the Congo since it gained independence in 1960.