About 1,000 people have marched in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, to protest the arrest of former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba on war crimes charges. 
The demonstrators Tuesday blew whistles, carried posters and chanted "Free Bemba."
Bemba was arrested in Belgium on Saturday for war crimes he allegedly committed in the Central African Republic.
The International Criminal Court says his forces carried out a series of rapes and murders in the CAR between October 2002 and March 2003.
Members of Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo, MLC, group insist he is innocent. An MLC official, Mika Pere Perry, says former CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse should be arrested instead.
Patasse had invited Bemba's group into his country to help put down a coup attempt.
Bemba is facing four counts of war crimes and two counts of crimes against humanity. His arrest is the first stemming from an investigation opened by ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo a year ago.
Belgian officials must approve his transfer to the ICC before he can go on trial.
After Congo's civil war, Bemba's MLC group became a political party. At one time Bemba was Congo's vice president. He lost the 2006 DRC presidential election to President Joseph Kabila.
Bemba left Congo for Portugal in April of 2007 after clashes between his supporters and government forces killed more than 200 people.
Related articles
- • Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
- • Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
- • Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
- • Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
- • DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
- • Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
- • No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
- • US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
- • Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
- • DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
- • Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
- • Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
- • Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
- • Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
- • ICC Case Against Bemba Wrapping Up as Another Opens (November 12, 2014)
- • Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
- • Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
- • Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
- • DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
- • DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
- • Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
- • DR Congo Eases Process for Starting a New Business (June 3, 2013)
- • Regional Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal (February 24, 2013)
- • The M23 Rebels Want to Overthrow Kabila? Nonsense (November 28, 2012)
- • Protests Against M23 Rebels, Government and UN Spread (November 22, 2012)
- • Thousands Protest M23 Capture of Goma, Turn on Government and UN (November 21, 2012)
- • DR Congo Officials Vow to Defend Goma Against M23 Rebels (November 19, 2012)
- • At high-level meeting, Ban urges political solution to crisis in eastern DR Congo (September 27, 2012)
- • US Cuts Military Aid to Rwanda Over Support to Rebels in DR Congo (July 21, 2012)
- • DR Congo, Rwanda Sign Pact to Fight Rebels in Eastern Congo (July 15, 2012)
