A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced two Lebanese businessmen to death for trading in foreign currency with rebel forces.

The men, Sammy Hachim and Khalil Algadba, were found guilty of espionage and selling Congolese francs.

If the sentence is carried out, the two will become the first foreigners to be executed in the DR Congo since President Laurent Kabila took power in 1997.

Congolese military courts allow no right of appeal and the condemned men's only legal recourse is to seek a Presidential pardon.

The court also ordered their assets seized.

Arrested at port

Two other Lebanese businessmen - Hassan Mourad and Katoun Jafaar - were acquitted of the same charges.

Congolese radio reported that the men were arrested at the river port in the capital, Kinshasa, where they were loading a lorry on to a boat bound for Congo-Brazzaville.

The truck was alleged to be carrying four hidden cases containing four million Congolese francs ($400,000 at black market rates).

According to the radio report, the accused told the court the money was to be converted into dollars in the rebel-controlled east of the DR Congo.