/ 11 February 2000

AMESTY WARNS OF DRC EXECUTIONS

AMNESTY International warned on Thursday that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is intent on killing 61 prisoners despite promises not to carry out further executions. “These 61 men now face an imminent appearance before the firing squad after being convicted by a military court in proceedings that contravene international standards of fair trial,” said the human rights watchdog agency, adding that the Kinshasa regime pledged last year to abolish the deeath penalty.