Two subjects feature prominently in today's Kinshasa press: (1) the United Nations Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC)'s weekly news briefing held Wednesday and (2) dissensions within several Congolese political parties.

"Consultations [to be held] to determine the [new] mandate of MONUC after [the DRC] elections" La Tempête des Tropiques. The UN Secretary-General "has received the backing of the UN Security Council to hold consultations with the future Congolese authorities on adjustments to MONUC's mandate and capacities..," says the daily, quoting the UM Mission's deputy spokesman Jean-Tobie Okala. But even before that, after completion of the electoral process, "MONUC's strength will be scaled down and its mandate revised with a view to the consolidation of peace, support for the country's reconstruction and the establishment of the rule of law," according to La Tempête des Tropiques.

Referring to "a contract on post-electoral governance" envisaged by the United Nations "in order to assist the future Congolese leaders," Le Potentiel notes that MONUC's current mandate has been "extended until 15 February 2007 by the Security Council."

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the Congolese National Police and the Military Police, the United Nations Mission in the DRC continues its patrols aimed at making "Kinshasa town weapons-free." Citing MONUC's military spokesman, Le Phare reports that "eight guns were recovered" during the first day of weapon control patrols. The seized weapons were "recovered from four police officers and four soldiers [carrying them] without authorization..."

In other news, Le Potentiel reveals that "the international community bought [Vice President] Jean-Pierre Bemba a [new] helicopter." It is worth recalling that Bemba's helicopter was destroyed in violent clashes involving his and President Kabila's guard units on 22-23 August. With that gesture, the international community wants to "eliminate any reasons for animosity between the two candidates in the [upcoming] presidential election runoff," Le Potentiel writes. Specifically, the aim is to "give Kabila and Bemba equal opportunities to do their election campaigns so that both have no excuse to contest the election results," the paper adds.

In that respect, "the same international community has threatened severe sanctions if anyone attempts to disrupt the electoral process before, during and after the polls. Consequently, "the two candidates and their collaborators imperatively must as statesmen respect and honour their commitments," Le Potentiel recalls.

Meanwhile, according to L'Observateur, "Kabila strengthens his support base as the Coalition des Démocrates Congolais (CODECO, Congolese Democrats Coalition) enters his Alliance pour la majorité présidentielle (AMP, Presidential Majority Alliance". Indeed, speaking yesterday, CODECO's new president, Jean-Claude Muyambo, said his movement's "objective is to exercise political power with President Kabila ...during the next five years."

But La Référence Plus quotes another CODECO member as declaring that Mr. Muyambo "has no authority to make such a decision." "Several CODECO members, who were cited in the declaration announcing the eviction of Pierre Pay Pay [as CODECO's president], deny having participated in the eviction decision," the paper says. This means that "Pay Pay still holds the reigns of CODECO," La Référence Plus concludes.

The Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS, Union for Democracy and Social Progress) led by veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi who is boycotting the electoral process, "decided [to] expel 18 of [its] prominent members from the party..," Le Palmarès reports. . They are accused of "failing to follow the party's line by not respecting its decision not to participate in the process...," according to Le Palmarès.

But one of those expelled, Gaston Dindo, also Tshisekedi's campaign manager, is quoted by Le Palmarès as saying "there is no treason" on their part. It is something of "a soap opera that is unfolding within UDPS while the country faces a crucial electoral period on which its future depends," Le Palmarès says in a comment.

Le Potentiel reports that the Media High Authority (HAM, media regulatory body) suspended the daily newspaper L'Avenir for five days "for journalism ethics violation". The suspension decision came after L'Avenir published an article denouncing the embezzlement of 60 million Congolese francs earmarked to pay the wages of members of the minister for Public Works and Infrastructures' cabinet, but curiously "with a photograph of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba accompanying the story," according to Le Potentiel.