DR Congo: Anti-president demonstration kills 5

A demonstration on Monday in Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) eastern city of Goma left five people dead and many others injured, local sources said.

"One policeman died and several others were injured. Police stations were ransacked and burned," Gen. Placide Nyembo, police chief in North Kivu province, told Anadolu Agency.

He said that many protesters had weapons.

At least four protesters were killed by bullets, a local journalist said, adding that the anti-president protests were mostly held in two northern districts in Goma.

The Civil Society Action Group (CASC), had called for a 'dead city day'-- a stay-at-home strike across the country on Monday.

"We are not behind this demonstration. We called for a dead city day. We do not know who asked the people to revolt on Monday," Luc Nkulula, a communications officer for the group said.

The political situation in DRC has been extremely tense since President Joseph Kabila, who came to power in 2001, refused to leave office after his term expired on Dec. 19, 2016 and elections were not held.

Last December, political parties agreed on extending Kabila's rule till the end of 2017.

Earlier this month, the election commission said a poll to replace him could not be held before April 2019.

The country has seen several protests as opposition parties blame Kabila of avoiding elections, and extending his term through illegal means.

The country's opposition coalition on Monday threatened to hold unilateral presidential elections, if by Dec. 31 this year the government and the electoral commission fail to do so.

Pierre Lumbi, leader of the opposition Social Movement for Renewal party, said in a statement on Monday they will organize the elections making sure that Kabila is not part of it.

"Our position is clear. If by Dec. 31, 2017 there are no elections, we will hold elections without President Joseph Kabila,'' Lumbi said.

He called on the the Congolese to rise up and fight for their rights, adding that no one outside their country will come to liberate them.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, who visited the country last week, requested the government to hold the elections in 2018 if it wants to continue being supported by the U.S.