Congo-Brazzaville's Finance Miniser, Mathias Dzon, has accused unidentified
political enemies of trying to poison him.
The minister said he first became aware that something was amiss when his
clothes changed colour.

He said a paralysing liquid had been injected into his clothes, while they
were packed in a suitcase at the country's Maya-Maya airport earlier this
month, as he travelled to Washington for an IMF conference.

A laboratory in the United States subsequently found that substance in the
clothes was indeed toxic, according to reports.

Mr Dzon said the attempt on his life had been made by what he called certain
circles of power intent on taking his job.

Since taking up his post in October 1997, Mr Dzon has been subject to fierce
attacks from newspapers and from the United Democratic Forces, a coalition
that supports President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

A pro-opposition newspaper, La Rue, suggested that the campaign against Dzon
was organised by elements in the ruling coalition angry at the minister's
refusal to hand out "special payments".

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