A military court in Congo has handed down death sentences to thirty-seven people, after convicting them on charges of participating in a coup attempt.
The defendants, most of them Congolese also include three Americans, a Briton, Belgian and Canadian, who have five days to appeal the verdict on charges that include attempted coup, terrorism and criminal association.
The court in the capital, Kinshasa, convicted the 37 defendants and imposed harshest penalty of death in the verdict delivered by the presiding judge, Freddy Ehuma, at an open-air military court proceeding that was broadcast live on television.
Six people were killed during the failed coup attempt led by the opposition figure, Christian Malanga in May, that targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi.
Congolese army said Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after live-streaming the attack on his social media handle.