KINSHASA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The inclusive national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) was on Tuesday suspended for 48 hours due to the tension witnessed on Monday in the country's capital, Kinshasa.
"The tension observed currently in Kinshasa does not allow us to proceed with the dialogue," the African Union (AU) facilitator for the dialogue Edem Kodjo said.
Kodjo, who used the opportunity to send a message of condolence to families of victims of Monday's violence, said the sessions will resume on Friday morning and expressed hope that the parties to the dialogue will be able to complete their mission.
Kodjo said participants in the dialogue had been seriously affected by the violence, but asked them to remain courageous.
The facilitator also strongly condemned the violence in all its forms and urged the parties to be responsible.
The violence that rocked an opposition march on Monday led to the death of 17 people, among them, three police officers, as well as the destruction of a lot of public and private properties.
The situation in Kinshasa remains tense.
On Monday night, several offices of opposition parties were burnt down. Three members of the main opposition party, Union for Democracy and Social Progress, were found dead on Tuesday.
