This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27049627

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Belgian Emmanuel de Merode shot in DR Congo ambush Belgian Emmanuel de Merode shot in DR Congo ambush
(35 minutes later)
The Belgian director of the Democratic Republic of Congo's famous Virunga National Park has been shot and seriously wounded in an ambush. The Belgian director of Africa's oldest national park - Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo - has been shot and wounded in an ambush.
Emmanuel de Merode's vehicle came under fire as he was travelling from the eastern city of Goma to the town of Rumangabo, according to a statement issued by the park. Emmanuel de Merode's vehicle came under fire as he was travelling from the eastern city of Goma to the town of Rumangabo, according to a statement issued by the park.
Some of eastern DR Congo's numerous armed groups are based in the park.Some of eastern DR Congo's numerous armed groups are based in the park.
More than 130 park rangers have been killed in Virunga since 1996.More than 130 park rangers have been killed in Virunga since 1996.
Lawless regionLawless region
Mr De Merode was shot in the chest, North Kivu Provincial Governor Julien Paluku told AFP news agency. Mr De Merode was shot in the stomach with four bullets, Cosma Wilungula, the secretary-general of the Congolese Institute for Conservation and Nature, told the BBC.
"He's in a stable but critical condition," the park said on its Twitter account. The park said on its Twitter account that Mr De Merode was "in a stable but critical condition".
Mr De Merode was driving unescorted from Goma to Rumangabo when gunmen ambushed his vehicle, according to Mr Paluku. However, Mr Wilungula later described his condition as "fine" and said he was talking.
Mr De Merode was driving unescorted from Goma to Rumangabo when gunmen ambushed his vehicle on Tuesday, North Kivu Provincial Governor Julien Paluku told AFP news agency.
Goma is about 50km (30 miles) from Rumangabo, the headquarters of Virunga National Park.Goma is about 50km (30 miles) from Rumangabo, the headquarters of Virunga National Park.
Several diplomatic sources said Mr De Merode had attended a meeting with a state prosecutor in Goma before he was shot, reports the BBC's Maud Jullien from the capital Kinshasa.
He had apparently handed the prosecutor sensitive information about oil exploration at Virunga, she says.
UK-based oil firm Soco International is exploring for oil at Virunga, despite strong criticism from environmental organisations, our correspondent adds.
Last August, Soco denied that its activities threatened the environment of the park.
The company said it was currently only evaluating the resources there.
The park - Africa's oldest - is home to 480 of the world's 790 remaining mountain gorillas.The park - Africa's oldest - is home to 480 of the world's 790 remaining mountain gorillas.
It is one of the most ecologically diverse places on Earth and is on the UN list of World Heritage sites in danger.It is one of the most ecologically diverse places on Earth and is on the UN list of World Heritage sites in danger.
The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a mostly lawless region, hit by conflict between the government and various armed groups.The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a mostly lawless region, hit by conflict between the government and various armed groups.
Rumangabo had one of the three biggest military bases in the country before it fell to the rebels last year,Rumangabo had one of the three biggest military bases in the country before it fell to the rebels last year,