KINSHASA, Congo — Congolese security forces killed at least seven people and at least one policeman died amid violence as more than a thousand people demonstrated in the capital against President Kabila’s refusal to step down from power, the United Nations mission in Congo and police said Sunday.

Florence Marchal, a spokeswoman for the UN Congo mission, said at least 82 people have been arrested across the country in connection with Sunday’s protests. She condemned the use of force against demonstrators.

Ida Sawyer, Human Rights Watch Central Africa director, said Congolese security forces shot dead two men outside St. Alphonse church in the Matete district.

Congo police spokesman Colonel Pierrot Mwanamputu, however, said the two were killed after an altercation with police. He said a police officer also died.

Leonie Kandolo, spokeswoman for one of the groups that organized the demonstrations, said more than 10 people were killed and several injured. She also said that dozens, including some priests, have been detained.

Catholic churches and activists had called for peaceful demonstrations after Sunday Mass, one year after the Catholic Church oversaw the signing of an accord that set a new election date to ease tensions in the mineral-rich country.

Kabila, whose mandate ended in December 2016, had agreed to set an election by the end of 2017.

Associated Press