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Congo pardons 24 people considered political prisoners

Congo President Joseph Kabila signs the Paris Agreement on climate change at United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

KINSHASA (Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of Congo's government announced pardons on Friday for 24 people considered political prisoners by the opposition, in a bid to ease tensions ahead of a presidential election set for November. Opposition leaders had demanded the release of 26 prisoners as a precondition for participation in talks on the election with President Joseph Kabila. (Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Richard Balmforth)