DRC leader flees to SA embassy
2006-03-02 19:31
Kinshasa - A Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) opposition leader who was arrested in December escaped from custody on Wednesday and sought sanctuary in the South African embassy.
Father Theodore Ngoy, a candidate in last year's presidential election, said he had slipped his police guard and fled to the nearby embassy after making a court appearance here.
He said he was seeking "political asylum" from South Africa because of his "imprisonment and bad treatment" in police custody since his arrest on December 29 for allegedly insulting the head of state.
South African diplomat Kenneth Pedro confirmed that Ngoy was inside the embassy.
Fears for his life
He said: "This man declared that he was afraid for his life and is currently in the confines of the embassy", adding that Ngoy would remain there overnight while his case was being addressed.
"We are in the middle of seeing how to manage this situation with the Congolese and South African authorities."
Ngoy said he was leaving the supreme court in his own car accompanied by a sole police guard after he simply drove to the embassy compound, a few hundred metres away and escaped inside.
The former lawyer was arrested after strongly opposing a draft constitution, which was approved in a December 18 referendum, opening the way for the first democratic elections in more than 45 years.
His supporters said he was a political prisoner who was being punished for going on television to criticise President Joseph Kabila in the immediate lead up to the referendum.
He had also lodged a lawsuit to have the constitutional referendum annulled due to "irregularities". If convicted he would be barred from standing in the 2006 presidential election.