Reports from the Democratic Republic of Congo say the spokesman for the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress, Joseph Kapika, has been arrested.

The reports also say that five journalists who were arrested yesterday have been released.

Their newspaper, Le Potential, had critised a new presidential decree on political parties, saying its lifting of a ban on political activities was only technical and that it kept many restrictions in place.

Mr Kapika is also reported to have denounced the new law.