Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) government spokesman Lambert Mende has urged the population to remain calm and carry on with their business after Tuesday's attack on Tshatshi army barracks in Kinshasa.

Speaking on national television, Mende said those who attacked the military base that serves as the headquarters of the defense ministry had pistols and machetes.

"The assailants were neutralized despite their resistance," the government spokesman said, without giving the death toll from the confrontation.

A Congolese military officer who declined to be named said "there were many deaths from the fighting."

Kinshasa governor Andre Kimbuta Yango also urged people to remain calm.

The spokesman said the identity of the assailants was not yet known, but the special security services were in the process of identifying them.

This was the second time in the last seven months that Tshatshi camp was coming under attack. The military camp is located close to the residence of President Joseph Kabila.

The previous attack on Dec. 30, 2013 also targeted Congolese national radio and television offices and N'djili international airport. It left 55 people dead, including 52 assailants and three security officers. Endi

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