KINSHASA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Armed men attacked the airport in Democratic Republic of Congo's main copper mining town, Lubumbashi, on Friday, forcing it to close for five hours, the government said.
Between 20 and 30 unknown combatants launched an assault against an ammunition depot used by airport security in the early hours of the morning, the Minister of Information Lambert Mende told Reuters.
"We are awaiting a report to know exactly the identity of these people, but the situation is returning to normal and flights have resumed," he said.
Police have arrested some suspects and continued to pursue the attackers, he said. He did not say whether anyone had been killed or injured.
Lubumbashi, in Katanga province, is at the heart of the central African state's rapidly growing mining industry.
Several international firms have operations in Katanga, including Freeport McMoran <FCX.N> which runs the giant Tenke Fungurume copper and cobalt project.
Katanga is seen as one of the most stable parts of Congo, which suffers from widespread insecurity following a brutal 1998-2003 war that killed five million people.
The Katangan Mining Society estimates Katanga holds some 70 million tonnes of copper reserves. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis)
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