Congo frees scientist in uranium smuggling scandal

KINSHASA, Mar 12 (Reuters) Democratic Republic of Congo has provisionally released the country's top nuclear researcher, arrested last week on suspicion of belonging to an international ring to illegally export uranium, a minister said today.

Minister of Scientific Research Sylvanus Mushi said he was deeply disappointed by the release from custody on Saturday of Commissioner General for Atomic Energy Fortunat Lumu, just four days after he was arrested with one of his colleagues.

Mushi, recently appointed as part of a new government, accuses the two men of illegally negotiating partnerships with foreign companies. He said he learned of Lumu's release today morning.

''This was a great disappointment, because we haven't yet uncovered everything there is to uncover,'' Mushi told Reuters.

''(Lumu's) presence outside of custody will seriously harm any chance of succeeding with this investigation.'' Lumu declined to comment, saying he would not speak publicly while the investigation was ongoing.

Mushi last week denounced a deal signed between Lumu and a subsidiary of UK-listed Brinkley Mining to mine and export uranium in the vast mineral-rich central African nation. He said the deal, agreed last year under a post-war transitional government, was part of what he called ''a criminal enterprise''.

Don Strang, Brinkley Mining's executive director for finance, told Reuters Monday the company had done nothing wrong.

''The agreement stands as originally announced. That's the line we stand by. There's nothing that would weaken the arrangement,'' he said.

Strang said he expected the matter to be clarified in the next 48 hours.

''It's been raised with the relevant people. I think it's all being sorted out,'' he said.

Former minister of scientific research, Gerard Kamanda wa Kamanda, Lumu's boss at the time the deal was signed, said today that the accusations against the nuclear chief are unfounded and the agreement with Brinkley Mining was legal.

''The declarations of the new minister are dangerous. He seems to be refusing the regulation of this sector and wants to push out the man who heads the controlling agency for radioactive materials. That's worrying,'' he said.

''We are talking about the management of sensitive materials.

This company was to help us do so transparently.'' Mushi said last week there was no evidence to support Congolese press reports that around 100 uranium bars had disappeared from the nuclear research centre where Lumu works.

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