RAPAPORT... Violence broke out in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo as police evicted hundreds of residents set-up to mine coltan, diamonds, and gold on what was being called government property.

One 10-year-old boy was killed in crossfire between police and miners yesterday as he was heading home from school in Likasi.

"The fighting started when some of the diggers started to throw stones at the police, who then started shooting to defend themselves," regional minister Jean-Marie Dikanga Kazadi told reporters.