DR Congo government bans large gatherings in capital

It comes ahead of a planned opposition march on July 8 against what it condemns as government plans to enable the president to cling to power.

Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, in a letter dated Saturday, ordered authorities in Kinshasa province and three others to ban "mass gatherings" in order "to prevent any spread of the Ebola virus epidemic".

It was not clear if the opposition march would fall under the ban.

More than two years before the Democratic Republic of Congo holds presidential polls, a bill on the organisation of a referendum on constitutional reform was adopted by parliament earlier this month.

It could open the door to a third term in office for President Felix Tshisekedi, 63, whose second and -- under the current iron-clad rules -- final five-year mandate ends in December 2028.

Tshisekedi is expected to decide soon on whether to enact the bill.

An opposition rally in Kinshasa on June 12 to denounce an attempted "constitutional coup" was suppressed and several opposition figures were wounded during clashes with pro-government activists and the police.

The office of the UN human rights chief condemned the death of at least one demonstrator.

The opposition has urged people to turn out onto the streets on July 8 to call for Tshisekedi's resignation.

The vast central African nation is battling its 17th Ebola outbreak, which was declared on May 15.

The crisis, which affects four northeastern provinces, has claimed 360 lives out of 1,274 confirmed cases, according to figures from the World Health Organization.

However, scientists and aid workers say the real numbers are likely higher.

No cases have been reported in Kinshasa, a megacity of more than 17 million people.