A heavily-armed commando attempts to storm the Raïs's residence

Scants details are thus far transpiring on the attack this Sunday
afternoon by heavily-armed assailants of the Raïs's residence in the
GLM neighborhood of downtown Kinshasa, by the Grand Hôtel.

According to Communication Minister Lambert Mende, the assailants were
repulsed by the outer protection ring of the Presidential Guard
billeted around the residence of the Raïs, who was on tour in the
Bas-Congo Province. The President has since returned to Kinshasa.

Mende put the death toll at 6 assailants killed during the clash.
Other sources claim that 2 presidential guards also died. Some of the
attackers were captured and an unknown number of them are on the run,
Mende added.

Tanks are still locking down the area and some troops were deployed
along the periphery of Kokolo army barracks where the fugitives might
be hiding and where heavy gunfire was also heard in the course of the
afternoon.

Five years ago, two other such attempts against Kabila were repulsed:
one, by disgruntled ex-Mobutu's elite troops exiled in Brazzaville on
the right bank of the Congo River; and the other, by one Major Eric
Lenge, erstwhile comrade of the Raïs.

While some shops closed down in some neighborhoods, the situation
remains calm throughout the city.