The security forces said that they seized bags of rice, maize, and cassava as well as cartons of canned food in houses around the Kingabwa area.

These foodstuffs were looted during the armed clashes which took place on March 22 and March 23, for the reason that the so- called proprietors have no proof of having bought them, according to the security forces.

While speaking on national radio, the commander of the national Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) Patience Mushidi said that this operation was in the framework of recovering the arms distributed to civilians by Bemba's bodyguards in order to prevent the propagation of criminal activities in Kinshasa.

According to Mushidi, arms were distributed particularly in the districts of Gombe, Kinshasa, Barumbu, Kasa-Vubu and Kalamu as well as around Limete in Kingabwa.

Order has been restored and the situation has been brought under total control, he affirmed before calling on Kinshasa inhabitants to continue freely with their daily activities.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2007)