Protesters clash with police outside U.S. Consulate
Additional police units were called to a protest in front of the U.S. Consulate on University Avenue after some demonstrators began throwing dirt at officers.
A 45-year-old man and a 26-year-old man have both been charged with unlawful assembly and assaulting a peace officer. The older man was also charged with attempted forced entry and the younger protester was charged with assault with a weapon.
Toronto police called in for extra units after it became clear that the tension between officers and protesters was beginning to mount.
At one point, protesters swarmed police cruisers, police told CP24.
Police quickly put up barricades in front of the consulate. A dozen police cars also surrounded the area, blocking University Avenue at Dundas Street.
The situation was soon under control and the rally continued peacefully outside Queen's Park where protesters had first assembled in the morning before marching through the city.
The protest is being held by the Association of Canadians from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The demonstrators are marching in protest of the recent violence that broke out during last week's elections in Congo. They say the international community should have done more to monitor the situation.
A cry for foreign aid
Canada sent seven people to monitor the election in Congo. One member is stationed in the capital city Kinshasa while the others are stationed in the country as observers. The Canadian contingent is working with closely with a team of 46 long-term observers and 72 short-term observers, according to the office of Bev Oda, the minister of international cooperation which oversees the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
But overall, foreign countries purportedly sent less financial aid and fewer monitors this time than they did during the country's previous election in 2006.
Delivery trucks carrying ballots were hijacked and voter kiosks were attacked by armed men. Some polling stations were even set on fire. A Human Rights Watch report says at least 18 people were killed and more than 100 people have been wounded. Hundreds complained they weren't able to vote.
Election results are expected to be released at around midnight local time. Opposition parties are rejecting the election's first results and are asking for the international community to get involved.
'We want change'
Canada has contributed more than $300 million to peacekeeping efforts in Congo since 1999.
But a protest organizer named Mukendi said more needs to be done in the name of democracy.
"No one is talking about the (election) fraud," he told CP24.
"We want the change coming from the election to be respected," he said. "If you go out and vote and it's not respected then where is the democracy?"
Mukendi said the Congolese people are ready to put their fears aside and fight for their rights.
"In dictatorships, people have fear," he said. "The Congolese people are saying we're going to stand up and not fear. Even if there are guns pointing at us, we're not going to fear."
He said despite the violence that broke out during Tuesday's protest, his group is committed to keeping to keeping their actions peaceful.
"I need to act. I need to raise my voice. I need to come out and tell Canadians and everyone else who can hear me that something is wrong," he said. "We're marching peacefully and we're going to continue walking peacefully until we find victory."
Violence in Ottawa
Meanwhile, violence also broke out during a protest in Ottawa Tuesday afternoon.
About 100 protesters gathered outside the CBC building in Ottawa to protest the media coverage of the situation in Congo.
That crowd quickly grew in size and moved towards the U.S. and Congo embassies.
Outside the Congo embassy, tensions errupted and several protesters clashed with police. Pepper spray was used by someone in the crowd as a large contingent of officers guarded the property.
With files from The Associated Press and CTV Ottawa
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