- The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo Kinshasa (DRC) has helped former Vice-President and opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, whose guards were involved in deadly fighting last month with the Congolese army, to leave the country safely today "for medical treatment".
The UN mission, known as MONUC, provided security for Mr Bemba's transport from the South African embassy in the capital, Kinshasa, to the airport, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.
Mr Bemba then took a flight to Portugal, where he "is scheduled to receive medical treatment for an old injury," according to UN reports from Kinshasa.
While MONUC and Mr Bemba point to the need of medical treatment, other sources however hold that the influential oppositional rebel-leader-turned-VP is heading for a European exile. Mr Bemba has been trapped in the South African embassy since late March, unable to leave without facing arrest.
He had to seek refuge few days after heavy gun battles in Kinshasa between the army and his guards - who had refused to disarm and join the regular army. The battle left at least 150 people dead. Mr Bemba is a current senator and thus covered by immunity from prosecution. But President Joseph Kabila has threatened to remove this immunity and present him with charges of treason.
According to the UN, the MONUC move to evacuate Mr Bemba followed "a request from Mr Bemba and Congolese authorities" after he was granted permission to leave Kinshasa by the President of the Provisional Office of the Senate.
Last year, Mr Bemba was defeated by President Kabila in the run-off round of landmark presidential elections in Congo Kinshasa, which is rebuilding after the end of a six-year civil war.
Since the polls, Mr Bemba has found it difficult accepting his defeat. Being used to rule vast regions of northern Congo as one of the country's major rebel leaders, he was now supposed to take on the role as the leader of the Kinshasa opposition and as a senator.
Despite the current peace deal, Mr Bemba also remained distrustful to the Kabila government and often stated concerns over his personal security. Based on this distrust, he refused to scale down his personal armed security guards to a level agreed upon.
Mr Bemba is not the only one facing disarmament problems, however. MONUC has been involved in discussions with Congolese authorities about the handover of opposition forces, some of whom have taken refuge with the mission in Kinshasa, to government authorities for reintegration or disarmament.
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