DR Congo Auctioning Oil Rights In Parts Of Rain-forest

President Felix Tshisekedi says the licensing rights for 30 oil and gas blocks in the Democratic Republic of Congo have gone up for auction, opening parts of the world's second-biggest rainforest to drilling that could release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. <br />He says the process showed a desire to benefit from the country's resources. <br />The Congolese government says it needs to access revenues to improve living standards in one of the world's poorest countries.