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| Congo aid 'to cross front line' | Congo aid 'to cross front line' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The UN is to send a convoy of food and medical supplies to help the 250,000 people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | The UN is to send a convoy of food and medical supplies to help the 250,000 people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| The convoy is to leave the city of Goma and move into territory controlled by renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda's forces. | The convoy is to leave the city of Goma and move into territory controlled by renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda's forces. |
| The UK and French foreign ministers, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, are in Rwanda for talks with President Paul Kagame aimed at ending the crisis. | The UK and French foreign ministers, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, are in Rwanda for talks with President Paul Kagame aimed at ending the crisis. |
| They earlier met DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. | They earlier met DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. |
| DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation in the coming weeks. | DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation in the coming weeks. |
| The UK and France have urged the full implementation of bilateral peace agreements as well as the disarming of militias. See a detailed map of the area | The UK and France have urged the full implementation of bilateral peace agreements as well as the disarming of militias. See a detailed map of the area |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda", where 800,000 people died in a 1994 genocide that is seen as the origin of the current conflict over the border. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda", where 800,000 people died in a 1994 genocide that is seen as the origin of the current conflict over the border. |
| Aid corridor 'vital' | Aid corridor 'vital' |
| While aid workers hope the latest diplomatic efforts will work, they are not waiting to find out, says the BBC's Peter Greste in Goma. | While aid workers hope the latest diplomatic efforts will work, they are not waiting to find out, says the BBC's Peter Greste in Goma. |
| Since fighting began across the region almost two months ago, some 250,000 people have been forced from their homes, and aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations in many areas. | Since fighting began across the region almost two months ago, some 250,000 people have been forced from their homes, and aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations in many areas. |
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| The dire situation in camps for the displaced outside Goma | The dire situation in camps for the displaced outside Goma |
| As many as 50,000 displaced have reached Goma - the capital of the volatile North Kivu province - but the rest have all but vanished, our correspondent says. | As many as 50,000 displaced have reached Goma - the capital of the volatile North Kivu province - but the rest have all but vanished, our correspondent says. |
| It is unclear how they are managing to survive. | It is unclear how they are managing to survive. |
| The British and French officials have said establishing an aid corridor to Goma is a top priority. | The British and French officials have said establishing an aid corridor to Goma is a top priority. |
| "These people... need safe and secure routes for the humanitarian aid that has been promised," said Mr Miliband. | "These people... need safe and secure routes for the humanitarian aid that has been promised," said Mr Miliband. |
| Visiting a camp for displaced people north of Goma on Saturday, the ministers and their bodyguards had to push through dense crowds of desperate people. | Visiting a camp for displaced people north of Goma on Saturday, the ministers and their bodyguards had to push through dense crowds of desperate people. |
| Many were struggling to cook meagre emergency rations while others tried to put up flimsy plastic shelters in the rain. | Many were struggling to cook meagre emergency rations while others tried to put up flimsy plastic shelters in the rain. |
| Others were trying to return to their homes, journeying on foot through territory now controlled by Gen Nkunda, whose rebels are camped out near the city. | Others were trying to return to their homes, journeying on foot through territory now controlled by Gen Nkunda, whose rebels are camped out near the city. |
| Concerns were heightened earlier in the week when the UN refugee agency said camps sheltering 50,000 refugees in Rutshuru, 90km (56 miles) north of Goma, had been forcibly emptied, looted and then razed. | Concerns were heightened earlier in the week when the UN refugee agency said camps sheltering 50,000 refugees in Rutshuru, 90km (56 miles) north of Goma, had been forcibly emptied, looted and then razed. |
| Overstretched peacekeepers | Overstretched peacekeepers |
| US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer has backed the idea of sending EU troops to help the overstretched UN mission, Monuc. Eyewitness accountsCrisis bites for refugeesQ&A: DR Congo conflict | US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer has backed the idea of sending EU troops to help the overstretched UN mission, Monuc. Eyewitness accountsCrisis bites for refugeesQ&A: DR Congo conflict |
| But Mr Miliband said the 850 UN soldiers in Goma should rather be reinforced by some of the 16,000 peacekeepers deployed in other parts of the country, and did not support the sending of British troops. | But Mr Miliband said the 850 UN soldiers in Goma should rather be reinforced by some of the 16,000 peacekeepers deployed in other parts of the country, and did not support the sending of British troops. |
| The head of Monuc, Alan Doss, said he hoped to be able to find ways to reinforce the UN troops in Goma, but stressed: "We do need help. We are stretched. We are engaged on four fronts." | The head of Monuc, Alan Doss, said he hoped to be able to find ways to reinforce the UN troops in Goma, but stressed: "We do need help. We are stretched. We are engaged on four fronts." |
| Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the genocide. | Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the genocide. |
| The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. | The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. |
| There have also been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. | There have also been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. |
| The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. | The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. |
| Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. | Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. |
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