Congo police disperse banned election protest

STORY: Disputes over the Dec. 20 presidential and legislative elections threaten to further destabilize Democratic Republic of Congo, which is already grappling with a security crisis in eastern areas that has hampered development in the world's top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals.

Riot police surrounded the headquarters of Martin Fayulu, one of President Felix Tshisekedi's main challengers, and used tear gas and force to disperse protesters who had gathered for Wednesday's opposition march in defiance of a government ban.

Security forces and people in and around the headquarters lobbed rocks at each other, leading to multiple injuries, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.