KINSHASA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Shooting was heard Thursday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the residence of former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, according toa Chinese embassy official in the city.

    The first shooting of Kalashnikov was heard just before 11:30 GMT in a neighborhood situated between two houses of Bemba in the northern district of Gombe, Kinshasa.

    A witness said the shooting is an exchange of fire between Bemba's armed supporters and government forces.

    A great number of armed guards of Bemba had been deployed in the area, with red headband in the forehead and especially with spears which are more than their guns.

    The shooting was rapidly followed by loud explosion and salvo of machine guns.

    "There was a lot of shooting, of Kalashnikov and then of (rocket lance) RPG-7. Difficult to say if there were heavy weapons engaged at this moment," a western security source told AFP.

    "Supporters of Bemba has multiplied their provocations since this morning. They came out from their area (in front of the residence), sang and danced with the read headband on their head as a sign of war," the source added.

    In the morning, the army was heavily deployed in this area. Tensions have been intense in this neighborhood these days, with Bemba's top advisor Fidel Babala saying on Wednesday that fightersloyal to Bemba, who used to be a rebel leader, will defy a government order to disarm until Bemba's security is assured.

    The government of President Joseph Kabila, who defeated Bemba in the landmark elections held last year, ordered last week Bemba's forces to begin integrating into the national army or disband.