People in the Democratic Republic of Congo have protested government attempts to change the Constitution to allow President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond his two-term limit.

More than 2,000 protesters took to the streets of the capital, Kinshasa, on Saturday, urging Kabila to respect the Constitution and step down after his term ends in 2016.

Senior figures from the main opposition parties, the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) and the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), also participated in the march.

Kabila became the mineral-rich nation's leader after the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila, back in 2001.

He then won election in 2006 and 2011. The latter vote was marred by complaints of widespread irregularities.

"We don't want any more Mr. Kabilas. The people are tired," said Bruno Mavungu, the secretary general of the UPDS party.

"The Congolese people are saying: no one touches the Constitution."

Earlier this week, Kabila pledged to stick to a calendar of local and national elections which are scheduled for 2015 and 2016. But critics say he intends to maintain his grip on power.

A similar rally in the eastern town of Goma ended with police throwing tear gas at the protesters.

Over the past few decades, Congo has faced numerous problems such as grinding poverty, crumbling infrastructure and a war in the east of the country that has dragged on since 1998 and left over 5.5 million people dead.