KINSHASA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Saturday recalled its ambassador to Belgium and closed its diplomatic mission there following an ugly diplomatic spat, the local media has reported.

    The move was part of a government response to an assertion by Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who was quoted as saying that his country had a "moral right" over its former colony, according to reliable sources.

    Earlier this year, in widely published remarks, President Joseph Kabila had told a Belgian newspaper that Belgium would have to choose what kind of ties it wanted with its former colony.

    "It will have to decide whether it wants old-style master-servant colonial ties or modern relations based on mutual understanding and respect," said Kabila, accusing the former DR. Congo colonial master of having what he described as a "bad attitude."

    "The DR. Congo has also decided to close its consulate in Antwerp," the government said in a statement at the end of a cabinet meeting Friday.

    In the statement, the government said that its decision was intended to send "a strong protest" to Belgium after "recent declarations from the Belgian foreign minister, who attributed to the Belgian government a moral right over the DR. Congo and its leaders."

    The Democratic Republic of Congo is "an independent, sovereign country" and no other nation has a "moral right over it," said the statement, adding that cooperation between the two countries would have to be re-examined.

    But in a statement, the Belgian foreign ministry, through its spokesman Francois Delhaye, indicated that the government had not been "officially notified" of Kinshasa's decision and would wait until then before responding.

    Previously, remarks and comments attributed to the Belgian foreign minister had been the subject of tensions and heated exchanges between the two countries.

    During an April visit to Kinshasa, De Gucht had denounced corruption and the "fabulous privileges of the few," adding that 100 million euros (about 158 million U.S. dollars) provided by Belgium annually was supposed to be destined for the population.

    Shortly afterwards, President Joseph Kabila issued a tersely-worded statement criticizing the minister's "arrogance" and reaffirming that his country would not be subjected to a "master-slave relationship."