Belgian released from prison in DR Congo

A Belgian businessman who was responsible for running the rail network in the south of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo has been released from prison and placed under house arrest.

The businessman, Patrick Claes, was accused of embezzlement and arrested after Laurent Kabila's forces ousted President Mobutu from power last year.

Mr Claes was a director of a part-Belgian company called Sizarail, which was nationalized by Mr Kabila's government.

Human rights sources say Mr Claes was suffering from depression after spending five months in prison.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service