minister of mines
President Joseph Kabila has suspended six ministers from DR Congo's interim government after they were accused of embezzling millions of dollars.
Mr Kabila's move came after a parliamentary inquiry accused the ministers and at least 10 heads of state-run firms of corruption.
The suspended ministers include former rebels, former opposition leaders and members of Mr Kabila's own party.
Elections are due next year as part of the transition from war to peace.
The ministers for mines, energy, trade, public construction, higher education and transport are among those suspended on Mr Kabila's orders.
"In line with the prerogatives invested in me by the transitional constitution to uphold the laws of the republic and in the light of the serious suspicions weighing on these ministers, I have decided to suspend them," he said in a statement on state-run television.
QUICK GUIDE
The war in DR Congo
His action came a day after he received a report compiled by a parliamentary commission of investigation.
The report accused the ministers of embezzling millions of dollars.
Last month, there was widespread shock after a leaked audit revealed that some managers of state companies were earning up to $25,000 a month.
Most workers in DR Congo, which is trying to emerge from years of conflict and misrule, earn about $50 a month, if they are paid at all.
Allegations of corruption are widespread in DR Congo but it is the first time that they have led to concrete measures, says the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in Kinshasa.
Mr Kabila has led a government of national unity since 2003 and his main task is to guide the country to elections scheduled for June next year.