Congo rights group: regime flouting democracy

A leading human rights group in Congo Brazzaville charged Thursday that the regime was chronically violating democratic values. With parliamentary elections due in 2012, the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights lamented shrinking freedoms under President Denis Sassou Nguesso's rule. "The OCDH is alarmed by repeated attacks on democracy and vigorously condemns the numerous arrests targeting people who want to express their opinions as well as the banning of opposition rallies," a statement said. The watchdog claimed that a 31-year-old Congolese man had been jailed for attempting to organise protests involving strike action. It also cited a ban in July on a planned rally by an opposition movement and the brief detention of an outspoken political blogger. Sassou Nguesso's ruling Congolese Labour Party and its allies have won all elections in the country since 2002, victories all dismissed by the opposition as the result of rigging. Congo's 67-year-old strongman was last re-elected in 2009. He has held the top job since 1997 and previously between 1979 and 1992.