The former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo will remain in prison pending his war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"The Appeals Chamber decided that the decision of the Trial Chamber must be reversed," said Judge Akua Kuenyehia, at a hearing of the Appeals Chamber in The Hague on Wednesday.

A judge had ordered the ICC to provisionally release of Bemba who goes to trial in April 2010 for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.

The registrar had nevertheless ordered his continued detention in The Hague as the Court did not decide which state would receive him.

The ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had immediately appealed, arguing that the accused might flee to hinder prosecution. He had obtained the release of Mr. Bemba was suspended pending the decision of the Appeals Chamber.