Congo Kinshasa to get constituent assembly

President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo says he is setting up a transitional constituent assembly, which is to approve a new constitution already drafted by a committee last March.

The Assembly is to be made up of three-hundred representatives, who will be chosen by a committee.Those who held public office in the Mobutu years will be barred.

Correspondents say this will exclude key opponents of President Kabila such as Etienne Tshisekedi.

Congo has had no national assembly since rebel forces led by Mr Kabila seized control of the country last year.

The new assembly will have powers to adopt laws on political parties and associations.

The draft constitution -- once complete -- is to be put to a national referendum.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service