Police fired tear gas Wednesday as supporters of DR Congo opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi gathered to mourn in Kinshasa shortly after his death was announced, an AFP journalist said.

About 100 supporters were outside when security forces moved in, and dozens took refuge inside his party's headquarters to escape the gas.

A spokesman for his UDPS party earlier announced Tshisekedi's death at the age of 84 in Brussels, where he had flown on Tuesday for medical treatment.