Another member of the team, Paul Laberge, quoted by AFP, said the seizure of the documents meant the enquiry's confidentiality had been broken and the security of witnesses could not be guaranteed. The permanent under-secretary at the DRC presidency, Yerodia Abdoulaye Ndombasi, told a news conference on Friday the investigator had been detained for passport irregularities. The DRC government over the weekend declared the closure of all private airstrips in the country, DRC television reported. The airstrips can now only be used with special authorisation from the minister of state for the interior. Explaining the measure, Transport Minister Henri Mova said it was designed so that the authorities could control the movement of planes and pilots.
Observers point out air travel is the only way to reach remote parts of the country.
Newspaper editor arrested The editor of 'Le Palmares' daily was arrested by security agents on Saturday, according to news reports. Michel Kadi Luya was detained as he prepared to chair a meeting of the newspaper's board of directors. Apparently no reason was given for his arrest. Meanwhile another journalist, Mossi Mwassi who reports for the BBC, was released the same day after being held for four months on charges of spying. According to a BBC report, the authorities have approved the registration of more than 20 human rights groups, but refused many others the right to operate legally.