Italian anti-death penalty activists in plea to DR Congo president

ROME, Jan 15 (AFP) - An Italian anti-death penalty group appealed Wednesday to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila to pardon 30 people sentenced to death for the assassination of his father and predecessor. The 30 were sentenced to death by a military court in Kinshasa last week for the assassination of Laurent Kabila in the presidential palace two years ago. The decision by the Court of Military Order cannot be appealed, but the sentences cannot be carried out without the approval of the president. The "Hands off Cain" group said it had sent a letter urging clemency for the conspirators to the charge d’affaires of the DRC embassy in Rome, Ngoie Benoie. The group urged Kabila in the letter to send "a positive signal to the international community in applying non-vindictive justice." It noted that it was a difficult case for Kabila "because it involves you personally". nm/db/gd DRCongo-justice-Italy