Prosecutors in South Africa say Congo rebels came to seek help to overthrow Congo president

PRETORIA, South Africa – Prosecutors say 19 suspected Congolese rebels arrested in South Africa offered mineral rights for weapons and assistance in overthrowing Congolese President Joseph Kabila.

Prosecutors said this during a court hearing Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa's capital. They say the alleged rebels belong to a group called the Union of the Nationalists for Renewal. Those accused do not have lawyers and one stood and said police denied him access to lawyers and his family since his arrest.

Prosecutors say the suspected rebels dealt only with undercover police officers, who recorded all encounters.