Congolese ex-leader guilty of treason

The former Congolese president, Pascal Lissouba, has been convicted of treason and corruption and sentenced to 30 years' hard labour by the high court in Brazzaville.

Mr Lissouba and four of his former ministers were convicted in their absence for their part in a $150m oil deal with the American company, Occidental Petroleum.

They were found to have sold the oil in 1993 at less than a quarter of the market price.

Mr Lissouba, who has lived in exile since being overthrown four years ago, has dismissed the trial as a joke.

The court proceedings lasted two days.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service