Fredericton hunger striker taken to hospital

A Fredericton man, who has been on a hunger strike for 38 days to protest against human rights abuses in his native country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, collapsed on Wednesday afternoon and was taken to hospital.

At Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, Frederick Mwenengabo, doctors stabilized him and conducted tests, including a CT scan.

"I think there was a faint suspicion of a concussion because a table had fallen on his back after he had fallen to the floor, but it looks like the initial results are all positive," hisfriend, Anthony Njuko, told CBC News.

Mwenengabo could be released from hospital by tomorrow, but insists he'll continue his protest untilhe hears fromPrime Minister Stephen Harper,said Njuko.

'We think there ought to at least be some response towards him that would at least make it easier for us to then convince him to call this whole thing off.' Anthony Njuko, friend

Njuko hopes the federal government will now take note of his friend's plight.

"We think there ought to at least be some response towards him that would at least make it easier for us to then convince him to call this whole thing off.

"But at the moment, it seems nothing is forthcoming from the government."

Mwenengabo has been livingonly on water since March 4.

Just last week, a visibly weak Mwenengabo told CBC News his hunger strike was drawing attention to his cause.

He said he recently received a call from Fredericton MP and federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, who promised to bring the hunger strike toPrime Minister Stephen Harpers attention.

Mwenengabo has said the purpose of his hunger strike is to pressure the prime minister into boycotting a summit of La Francophonie in Kinshasa,Congo in October 2012.

He also wants a warlord to be put on trial before the International Criminal Court.

In addition, he is asking that Canada make an official request to the United Nations to proclaim an international day of remembrance for the millions of Congolese slaughtered in the last decade of war.