About 30 Chinese stores looted in D.R. Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been seeing massive anti-government protests in the capital Kinshasa since Monday.

The Senate had postponed a vote on a proposed law that the opposition fears will prolong the president's time in power. Some local gangs have looted stores and companies, including around 30 Chinese stores in the capital. Three Chinese nationals have been reported injured, but most have been evacuated.

"At about eight in the morning, thieves and gangs gathered to drive people away with stones. Then they used tires, planks and stones to block roads. They scared people by smashing doors with stones. They broke into stores and let hundreds of people get in to steal," a Chinese businessman said.

The Chinese Embassy has launched emergency and joint defense mechanisms, and is collaborating with local Chinese chambers of commerce to tackle the crisis.

The embassy says most local Chinese business people have been evacuated to safe places, but most of their stocks have been looted. The riot is continuing in some parts of Kinshasa. The government has deployed the police and armed forces. Some Internet, text messaging, and public transport services have been cut in an attempt to control the situation.