The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have released a leading human rights activist, who was detained on Friday.

Justice Ministry officials gave no reason, either for the arrest or release of Pascal Kambale, a senior member of the human rights organisation, AZADHO, which was banned last month.

He was detained after holding a news conference in which he accused President Kabila's government of widespread abuses.

In a separate development, the German Foreign Ministry said a journalist working for a Berlin-based newspaper had been expelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The reporter, Peter Boehm, was arrested on suspicion of espionage last month, but was not charged.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©