Congo court would hear Norwegians appeal

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Two Norwegians sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo for homicide and espionage will not be executed, Norway's foreign minister said Friday.

Jonas Gahr Store said his counterpart in the Congo has assured him the country's supreme court would be willing to hear the Norwegian's case, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK reported.

The two Norwegians have been held in the Congo since May when their Congolese driver was found shot to death.

The men testified the driver was killed by gunmen who ambushed their car near the city of Kisangani.

In September, they were found guilty and sentenced them to death by a military court.

An appeal of their sentence was turned down on Thursday.