Minister of Security and Public Order Paul Mbot of Congo, Republic of the

and (6) MBOT was not required to accommodate waiver request.

The Nsiloulou militias killed three military policemen, two police officers and one Chinese person was killed by a stray bullet," Security Minister General Paul Mbot said in a statement.

Mbot said several people had been wounded and a number of people taken hostage, including the two foreigners, whose nationality was not given.

Mbot denied the clash was related to Kolelas's visit.

Mbot said the coup was in a preparatory phase, and was being masterminded by Nguila Moungounga Nkombo, a former finance minister in the government of Pascal Lissouba, who lost power in 1997 during a civil war.