The head of the Congolese army, Colonel Joseph Mobutu, says he has suspended the two rival prime ministers and President Joseph Kasavubu until the crisis has been resolved.

Meanwhile there has been heavy fighting in the southern breakaway province of Katanga which has left up to 70 people dead.

It began when police started searching buildings for supporters of the dismissed prime minister, Patrice Lumumba.

Arrest warrant

Mr Lumumba, elected prime minister when Congo was given its independence by Belgium on 30 June, has fled to his headquarters in Stanleyville.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued after he rejected as illegal the attempt nine days ago to dismiss him as prime minister.

His rival for the office of prime minister, Joseph Ileo, was appointed by President Kasavubu.

Now all three men have been suspended from office and parliament has also been adjourned for at least a month.

Mr Lumumba's newly-formed government came under pressure just two weeks after independence when the mineral-rich Katanga province, led by Moise Tschombe, broke away from central control.

Belgian troops moved in - initially to defend foreign nationals - but then refused Prime Minister Lumumba's orders to leave.

United Nations troops have been sent to Manona, the scene of today's fighting, 400 miles north of Elisabethville, capital of Katanga.

They have begun airlifting women and children from the town.

But the UN has also been criticised for intervening in Congo's internal affairs.

The Soviet Union is now calling for the dismissal of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjoeld, accusing him of violating Security Council instructions in Congo.

It has accused UN troops of seizing a local radio station in Leopoldville and closing all Congo airports.

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