The South African-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has ruled out chances that the men arrested and identified as foreign mercenaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were plotting a coup or planning to destabilise the country ahead of 30 July elections.

Orlando-based AQMI Strategy Corporation has confirmed the release of three U.S. Citizens who had been illegally detained since Friday, May 19 by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The international community deplored "the recent manoeuvres" of security service agents "against some political candidates and certain political figures" and "denounces the political exploitation of a coup plot" in a critical statement

Congolese soldiers in the restive northeastern district of Ituri have captured a "brigade commander" of the former militia Union des Patriotes Congolais(the Congolese Patriotic Union) which was led by Thomas Lubanga, currently awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court.

Mayi-Mayi warlord Kyungu Mutanga, alias Gédéon, surrendered to UN peacekeepers on Friday in Mitwaba, a town in southeastern province of Katanga in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United Nations says government forces in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo are committing an increasing number of serious human rights violations.

Eighteen fully integrated army brigades whose mission will be to provide security during Congo's general elections later this year will be fully trained by 5 July, the spokesman of the army chief of staff, Jean-Willy Mutombo, has said.

Close to 200 Mayi-Mayi fighters have surrendered with their weapons to United Nations peacekeeping troops in north and central Katanga Province, in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

With ongoing fighting between the government and Mayi-Mayi militia groups in the north and centre of Katanga Province the number of displaced has reached at least 165,000 in the last six months, UN officials said.