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DR Congo rebels 'oust Gen Nkunda' DR Congo rebels 'oust Gen Nkunda'
(about 2 hours later)
Senior commanders in the main rebel movement in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say they have ousted their leader, General Laurent Nkunda. Officers in the main rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say they have ousted their leader, Gen Laurent Nkunda - a claim he denies.
CNDP officers told the BBC they had removed Gen Nkunda because of what they described as "bad governance".CNDP officers told the BBC they had removed Gen Nkunda because of what they described as "bad governance".
There has been no comment yet from Gen Nkunda and no independent confirmation. But a spokesman for Gen Nkunda then told the BBC that this was not true.
The CNDP launched a major offensive in August, which displaced more than a quarter of a million people and raised fears of a wider regional war.The CNDP launched a major offensive in August, which displaced more than a quarter of a million people and raised fears of a wider regional war.
Gen Nkunda and his group says they are fighting to protect the Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide. The military high command decided unanimously to put an end to the CNDP leader's bad governance which was dangerous for the movement's future and for the Congolese people Kamanzi DesireCNDP spokesmanGen Nkunda and his group says they are fighting to protect the Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide. The military high command decided unanimously to put an end to the CNDP leader's bad governance which was dangerous for the movement's future and for the Congolese people Kamanzi DesireCNDP spokesman
The Congolese government has often promised to stop the Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.The Congolese government has often promised to stop the Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.
However, others see the CNDP as a Rwandan proxy and the biggest reason why DR Congo is yet to benefit from landmark elections in 2006 intended to draw a line under decades of conflict.However, others see the CNDP as a Rwandan proxy and the biggest reason why DR Congo is yet to benefit from landmark elections in 2006 intended to draw a line under decades of conflict.
Human rights group have accused CNDP forces, along with those of the government, of numerous killings, rapes and torture.Human rights group have accused CNDP forces, along with those of the government, of numerous killings, rapes and torture.
Talks in Kenya aimed at ending the conflict became deadlocked last month, with UN mediator Olusegun Obasanjo complaining that the CNDP's negotiators lacked the authority to make concessions.Talks in Kenya aimed at ending the conflict became deadlocked last month, with UN mediator Olusegun Obasanjo complaining that the CNDP's negotiators lacked the authority to make concessions.
'Transitional council''Transitional council'
The decision to remove Gen Nkunda as leader of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) reportedly came after a meeting of the rebel group's military high command on Sunday. Both government and rebel forces have been accused of war crimes Profile: General Laurent NkundaFace-to-face with rebel chiefQ&A: DR Congo conflictThe decision to remove Gen Nkunda as leader of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) reportedly came after a meeting of the rebel group's military high command on Sunday. Both government and rebel forces have been accused of war crimes Profile: General Laurent NkundaFace-to-face with rebel chiefQ&A: DR Congo conflict
In a statement sent to the BBC and signed by Brig-Gen Bosco Ntaganda, the rebels' chief of staff, the high command said Gen Nkunda's "bad leadership" and "bad governance" had distracted the CNDP from undertaking its normal activities and was dangerous for the Congolese people.In a statement sent to the BBC and signed by Brig-Gen Bosco Ntaganda, the rebels' chief of staff, the high command said Gen Nkunda's "bad leadership" and "bad governance" had distracted the CNDP from undertaking its normal activities and was dangerous for the Congolese people.
The high command had also resolved to set up an ad-hoc "transitional council" to run the group until further notice, the statement said.The high command had also resolved to set up an ad-hoc "transitional council" to run the group until further notice, the statement said.
A spokesman for the high command, Kamanzi Desire, said the council would ensure that the peace process continued.A spokesman for the high command, Kamanzi Desire, said the council would ensure that the peace process continued.
"The new leadership has pledged before CNDP members, the Congolese people and the international community to create favourable conditions for peace to return to eastern DR Congo with the help of the international community and Monuc (UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo)," he told BBC Afrique."The new leadership has pledged before CNDP members, the Congolese people and the international community to create favourable conditions for peace to return to eastern DR Congo with the help of the international community and Monuc (UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo)," he told BBC Afrique.
But a spokesman for Gen Nkunda then told the BBC by phone that the rebel leader had not been ousted - and during that phone call what appeared to be the voice of Gen Nkunda could be heard in the background.
The general had called a meeting of senior rebel leaders to take place on Tuesday, the spokesman said.
In recent weeks, Gen Nkunda has reportedly been in Rutshuru, a town in North Kivu, along with a battalion of his troops.In recent weeks, Gen Nkunda has reportedly been in Rutshuru, a town in North Kivu, along with a battalion of his troops.
Correspondents say it is not clear what the alleged ousting of Gen Nkunda means for the people of eastern DR Congo. The reports indicate that a power struggle may be taking place within the CNDP.
If the CNDP splits, it could just mean another rebel group is added to a deadly cocktail of armed militias, they say. If the CNDP splits, it could just mean another rebel group is added to a deadly cocktail of armed militias, correspondents say.
However, Gen Nkunda is accused of committing war crimes against the population, so his removal could mean a rare bit of good news for the local people, they add.