Call For Peaceful Uprising In Congo; Shots Fired In Congo

The president has ruled for more than 30 years (AFP)

A leader of the main opposition party in Congo-Brazzaville has called for a "peaceful popular insurrection" to prevent Sunday's controversial referendum on whether President Denis Sassou Nguesso can run for office again, AFP news agency reports.

Several people were shot dead by police during protests yesterday in the capital Brazzaville, said Pascal Tsaty Mabiala of the PanAfrican Union for Social Democracy party.

A government spokesman said he was unaware of any casualties.

BBC report continues:

"There has not been much violence. The opposition has been irresponsible by calling for a so-called march to take over power", Thierry Le'zin Moungalla told the BBC French service. The US has appealed for calm, saying both sides should refrain from violence that would "undermine the hard-won peace that all citizens deserve".

The vote is aimed at pushing through changes to the constitution such as scrapping age and two-term limits.

This would allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 71, to run for office again.

Security forces have fired warning shots to try to disperse hundreds of protesters marching in Congo's capital Brazzaville against a referendum on lifting presidential term limits, Reuters news agency reports.

At least four people were killed yesterday when police opened fire on a crowd of opposition supporters, it adds.

Critics of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, pictured below, accuse him of seeking to use Sunday's referendum to extend his rule ahead of a 2017 election.