Congo Kinshasa ministers detained

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed that two senior government ministers have been detained by officers of President Laurent Kabila's security service.

There are reports that several other ministers are also being questioned.

No official reason has been given, but a BBC correspondent in Kinshasa says the president has issued numerous warnings to Cabinet ministers against corruption and abuse of office for personal gain.

Other reports suggest that Mr Kabila was angered by a recent broadcast by national television about civil war atrocities in Africa.

One of the two ministers being held is the Information Minister, Raphael Ghenda.

The other is the Public Enterprises Minister, Kambale Mututulo.

Both were close aides to Mr Kabila during the campaign last year to overthrow the Mobutu regime in the former Zaire.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service