[Mail and Globe] At least four mortar shells pounded a northern working-class district of the Congo capital Brazzaville overnight causing heavy damage but no casualties, locals said on Tuesday. The attack came just hours ahead of key talks between the ruling party, the opposition and civil society groups in the run-up to the July presidential elections, which President Denis Sassou Nguesso is expected to contest. "At least two mortar shells exploded. They destroyed the wall of a plot of land which was inhabited but without injuring or killing anyone," a pro-government source said. "For the present we are not worrying about where the shells were fired from and who fired them," the source added. "Nevertheless they took advantage of lighting on a night of heavy rain to carry out their task."
A human rights activist said the attacks were intended to pressure the politicians to move ahead with the "republican dialogue" announced during a visit to Brazzaville in March by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The dialogue is due to review the institutional framework of the election, the electoral body and the financing of political parties. The holding of such a forum has long been demanded by the opposition, civil society and the clergy.
At the end of March the opposition expressed scepticism, saying the real aim of the dialogue was to legitimise the National Elections Organisation Committee, whose independence is questioned, before the presidential vote.