A Congolese opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, has been refused permission to leave his country.

Mr Tshisekedi was preparing to fly to Brussels to brief the European Parliament on his plan for resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo when the authorities confiscated his passport.

No explanation was given for the move.

It comes four months after Mr Tshisekedi's return to Kinshasa after being sent into internal exile in February.

He has not recognised the legitimacy of President Laurent Kabila and was accused of persistently breaking the political party ban imposed shortly after Mr Kabila took power.