This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7731937.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Head rebel 'backs DR Congo peace' Head rebel 'backs DR Congo peace'
(about 5 hours later)
Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has said he will support a peace process with the government of DR Congo, following talks with UN peace envoy Olusegun Obasanjo. DR Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has told UN peace envoy Olusegun Obasanjo he will support a peace process with the government.
Gen Nkunda also said he would respect a ceasefire, if the Congolese government did. Mr Obasanjo said it would take effort from both sides to keep a truce. Gen Nkunda also said he would respect a ceasefire if the Congolese government did. Mr Obasanjo said it would take effort from both sides to keep a truce.
The rebel agreed to cease-fire monitors as long as they did not include UN peacekeepers, whom he accuses of bias.
The meeting came amid reports of fresh clashes in the east of the country.The meeting came amid reports of fresh clashes in the east of the country.
An estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by weeks of conflict between rebels and government troops.An estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by weeks of conflict between rebels and government troops.
Speaking after the talks in the rebel-held town of Jomba, Gen Nkunda - wearing a grey suit rather than a military uniform - acknowledged that many lives had been lost in the fighting. name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area
The government of DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila has to date rejected rebel calls for direct negotiation.
After his meeting with Gen Nkunda in the rebel-held town of Jomba, Mr Obasanjo left for Kigali in neighbouring Rwanda which the DR Congo government accuses of supporting the rebellion.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle reports from Goma that Gen Nkunda's support for a ceasefire is not new and some observers were surprised at how Mr Obasanjo appears to have been seduced by a man Congolese officials and human rights groups refer to as a "war criminal".
It may be that Mr Obasanjo was expecting the rebel group to be a motley collection and when he saw that Mr Nkunda's troops were a well-equipped military unit, he was surprised, our correspondent adds.
'Two to tango'
Speaking after the talks , the rebel leader - wearing a grey suit rather than a military uniform - acknowledged that many lives had been lost in the fighting.
An estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by the fighting
"Today is a great day for us because we were losing many men and now we have a message of peace. We should work with this mission," he said."Today is a great day for us because we were losing many men and now we have a message of peace. We should work with this mission," he said.
"We agreed to open humanitarian corridors to support the process.""We agreed to open humanitarian corridors to support the process."
See detailed map of the area
Mr Obasanjo, Nigeria's former president, told reporters the discussions had gone "extremely well".
But he suggested concerted efforts would be needed for the peace initiative to succeed, saying: "Nkunda wants to maintain a ceasefire but it's like dancing the tango. You can't do it alone."
An estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by the fightingBBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle, in Goma, says Gen Nkunda reaffirmed his support for a ceasefire he had declared unilaterally a week ago, and repeated his demand for talks with the government on political, economic and security issues.
None of this is new, our correspondent says, and some observers were surprised at how Mr Obasanjo appears to have been seduced by Mr Nkunda, who Congolese officials and human rights groups refer to as a "war criminal".
It may be that Mr Obasanjo was expecting the rebel group to be a motley collection and when he saw that Mr Nkunda's troops were a well-equipped military unit, he was surprised, our correspondent adds.
Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan FDLR Hutu rebels who fled to DR Congo after the 1994 genocide.Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan FDLR Hutu rebels who fled to DR Congo after the 1994 genocide.
The government of DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila has to date rejected Gen Nkunda's calls for direct negotiation. Mr Obasanjo, Nigeria's former president, told reporters the discussions had gone "extremely well".
But he suggested concerted efforts would be needed: "It's like dancing the tango: you can't do it alone."
Mr Obasanjo, who met President Kabila on Friday, said the president had not laid down conditions for talks with the country's rebels.Mr Obasanjo, who met President Kabila on Friday, said the president had not laid down conditions for talks with the country's rebels.
The UN envoy also met members of DR Congo's parliament and ambassadors representing UN Security Council members in Kinshasa on Saturday.The UN envoy also met members of DR Congo's parliament and ambassadors representing UN Security Council members in Kinshasa on Saturday.
No conditions Fresh fighting
In the latest clashes on Sunday, witnesses reported hearing artillery, rockets and small arms fire near the village of Ndeko, about 55 miles (90km) north of provincial capital Goma and near the strategically important town of Kanyabayonga.In the latest clashes on Sunday, witnesses reported hearing artillery, rockets and small arms fire near the village of Ndeko, about 55 miles (90km) north of provincial capital Goma and near the strategically important town of Kanyabayonga.
UN peacekeepers protected a convoy delivering aid to eastern areasA UN military spokesman said soldiers from Gen Nkunda's rebel force and Congolese army troops had been involved in the fighting. UN peacekeepers protected a convoy delivering aid to eastern areas
A UN military spokesman said soldiers from Gen Nkunda's rebel force and Congolese army troops had been involved in the fighting.
In a recent BBC interview, Gen Nkunda said he wanted to take over the whole of Congo.In a recent BBC interview, Gen Nkunda said he wanted to take over the whole of Congo.
This was obviously propaganda, our correspondent says, but it scared many Congolese people because they, on the whole, believe that Gen Nkunda is backed by Congo's small but powerful neighbour, Rwanda. This was obviously propaganda, our correspondent says, but it scared many Congolese people because they, on the whole, believe that Gen Nkunda is backed by Rwanda which, though small, is powerful.
Rwanda, for its part, says Congo backs an anti-Rwandan government militia force based in the Congolese forest, our correspondent adds.Rwanda, for its part, says Congo backs an anti-Rwandan government militia force based in the Congolese forest, our correspondent adds.
Hungry civilians
The UN says the conflict that began in August between Gen Nkunda's fighters and government forces has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.The UN says the conflict that began in August between Gen Nkunda's fighters and government forces has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
On Friday, for the first time after weeks of fighting, UN aid workers delivered maize and lentils to some of the 50,000 or more hungry civilians in Rutshuru territory, north of Goma.On Friday, for the first time after weeks of fighting, UN aid workers delivered maize and lentils to some of the 50,000 or more hungry civilians in Rutshuru territory, north of Goma.
On the same day, Rwanda and DR Congo announced that they had agreed to work together to deal with forces along their common border blamed for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The Hutu fighters - known as the Interahamwe - have lived in eastern DR Congo since 1994 and have been a key factor in destabilising the region.
The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces using its territory, but has not done so.
Its forces have been accused of instead working with the FDLR to exploit the region's rich mines.
Return to topReturn to top
Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What is your reaction to the outcome of Olusegun Obasanjo's visit? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What is your reaction to the outcome of Olusegun Obasanjo's visit? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Name
 Name