U.N.'s Zeid warns Congo to pull back from brink
GENEVA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Congolese authorities are risking a large-scale crisis by escalating political violence, in which defense and security forces have shot civilian protestors dead in Kinshasa, U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said on Thursday.
"The writing is on the wall, and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition," Zeid said in a statement.
"Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital," he said, adding that at least 50 people were killed in clashes this week.
(Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Stephanie Nebehay)
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