Senior government officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed that rebel forces have taken control of the country's main power distribution network and cut off electricity supplies to the capital Kinshasa.

The officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said rebel forces seeking to overthrow the government of Laurent Kabila, were now in control of parts of the town of Inga and its hydro-electric dam, two-hundred-and-fifty kilometres south of the capital.

Large parts of Kinshasa were without electricity.

The rebels say they have also made other gains in the area, around the town of Matadi.

The government says it has launched a counter-offensive, and President Kabila has said the people of Congo should prepare for a long war.