Congo’s opposition pledged yesterday to escalate its campaign against President Joseph Kabila after police dispersed a protest march in the capital Kinshasa with teargas on Saturday.

Anti-government protests had been suppressed in at least three other towns, the opposition said. 

In the eastern province of North Kivu, police fired tear gas and threw stones at protesters in the town of Butembo.

Kinshasa authorities had refused permission for the march in the capital, organised by a coalition of leading opposition groups, arguing it had already permitted another rally on Saturday and could not police both of them.

Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) opposition party president Vital Kamerhe said that police had attacked protesters near Kinshasa’s train station. 

Several protesters were injured or arrested during the crackdown, he said.

Opposition supporters were angered on Thursday when UNC general secretary Jean-Bertrand Ewanga was sentenced to a year in prison for insulting President Kabila.