The expiration of Jean-Pierre Bemba's 60-day authorization for medical care in Portugal is the major news in today's local press.

"The 60-day authorization issued to Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba by the then Interim Office of the Senate has expired today," reports Le Phare.

Le Palmarès quotes Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba as declaring, "I am now fit and ready to return home after successful medical care in Portugal."

"It won't be easy for Senator Bemba to return to the DRC as a free man following the August 2006 and March 2007 clashes pitting his guards against the regular army," argues Le Phare, highlighting "the risk for the senator to have his parliamentary immunity removed as per request of the State Prosecutor." Moreover, "the senator will be deprived of his private guard and will not any from the UN for his protection as it used to be during the transition period."

"Responding to Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba's call to President Kabila to facilitate his return, the latter said it was up to the Senate which issued the authorization for him to go out of the country to decide for his return," writes Le Palmarès.

"The Senate should now be recording the Senator's absences," says L'Observateur, indicating, "under the Senate's regulation; a senator loses his mandate after failing to attend a quarter of the plenary sessions without any serious reasons.

"Debates around Jean-Pierre Bemba's return are groundless," says Le Potentiel explaining, "... the two ordinary sessions of the Parliament are to be held respectively in October 2007 and April 2008; therefore Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba may extend his stay for the moment without any problem since the Senate must first hold two ordinary sessions without the senator's participation."